Know your rights. Claim the funding you're owed.
When you buy medical equipment or adapt your home, the law is on your side — and so are public funds many people never claim. This is your plain-English guide to both.
Choosing for yourself is a right, not a privilege
Health Choice carries on the work of Consumers for Health Choice — a UK advocacy organisation that campaigned for every person's right to make their own informed decisions about their health and care. That principle runs deeper than supplements and treatments: it means you have the right to understand what you're buying, to be treated fairly when something goes wrong, and to know which public funds can pay for the adaptations that keep you independent at home.
Too many people overpay for equipment they could have had funded, or accept a faulty product because they didn't know the law protects them. Knowing your rights isn't about complaining — it's about staying in control of your own money, your own home, and your own decisions.
Three guides to standing up for yourself
Start with the guide that fits where you are — knowing your consumer rights, funding a home adaptation, or paying for a stairlift.
Your Rights When Buying Medical Equipment
Faulty monitor? Misleading claims? Pressure selling? Know exactly what the Consumer Rights Act, distance-selling rules and VAT relief entitle you to before you spend a penny.
Read the rights guideThe Disabled Facilities Grant
A means-tested council grant of up to £30,000 for home adaptations — ramps, level-access showers, widened doors. We explain who qualifies, how to apply, and how to avoid the common delays.
Check your eligibilityStairlift Grants UK
Our flagship funding guide. The full map of grants, charity schemes and local support that can pay for a stairlift — plus what to do if your application is turned down.
Find stairlift fundingNo commission. No sales pitch. No catch.
We don't sell equipment and we don't earn a penny from anyone you buy from. That independence is the whole point — it means we can tell you when a product isn't worth it, when a grant is a better route than your savings, and when a retailer is in the wrong.
Every guide is written in plain English, checked against current UK law and published funding rules, and updated as the rules change. If a claim isn't backed by evidence, it isn't on this page.
Common questions
Do I really have legal rights when I buy medical equipment online?
Yes. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you the right to goods that are of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described — whether you buy in a shop or online. Buy at a distance and you usually also get a 14-day cooling-off period to change your mind. Our rights guide walks through exactly how to use them.
What funding is available to adapt my home?
The main route in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is the Disabled Facilities Grant — a means-tested council grant of up to £30,000 (£36,000 in Wales) for adaptations like ramps, stairlifts and accessible bathrooms. There are also charitable schemes and, for stairlifts specifically, several dedicated funding paths. Our grant guides cover each one.
Can I get VAT relief on equipment I buy myself?
Often, yes. If you're disabled or have a long-term illness and the product is designed or adapted for your personal use, you may pay zero VAT — you simply sign a short eligibility declaration at checkout. Many people pay VAT they never owed. We explain when the relief applies in the rights guide.
What if my grant application is refused?
A refusal is rarely the end. You can ask for the decision to be reviewed, supply additional evidence from an occupational therapist, or explore charitable and local-authority discretionary funds. Our stairlift grants guide includes a section on what to do when an application is turned down.
Have a question we haven't answered?
If you're unsure which guide applies to your situation, or you've hit a wall with a retailer or a funding body, get in touch. We're an independent ally — here to help you stay informed and stay independent at home.