Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?
- February 23, 2021
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does cover some limited home health services.
Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans also cover home health care, as well as additional benefits such as caregiver support services and home modifications like wheelchair ramps and grab bars.
What home health care does Medicare cover?
Some of the eligible home health services that Medicare Part A or Part B may cover include:
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- Part-time skilled nursing care
- Part-time home health aide care
- Medical social services
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Speech-language pathology services
Home health services are typically covered only if they are considered medically necessary by your doctor. A home health care agency can help you coordinate your home health services.
What home health care does Medicare NOT cover?
Original Medicare does not typically cover:
- 24-hour-a-day care at home
- Homemaker services
- Meal delivery
- Custodial or personal care such as help with dressing or bathing, if that is the only care you need
Who is eligible for Medicare home health care?
Generally, anyone enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B who meets the following conditions can have their home health care covered by Medicare:
- A doctor certifies that you are homebound
- You are under the care of a doctor
- A doctor certifies that you require one or more of the following:
- Part-time skilled nursing care
- Physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or occupational therapy services
Home health services are only covered by Medicare when they are specific, safe and an effective treatment for your health condition.
How much does home health care cost with Medicare?
Even if your home health care services are covered by Medicare, you may have to pay some money out of pocket.
Typically, you’ll pay $0 for Medicare-covered home health care services and 20% of the Medicare approved amount for durable medical equipment (DME).
Ask your home health agency how much Medicare will pay before you begin receiving home health care. This can help prevent you from being surprised by unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare may cover some services provided in an assisted living facility
Although the housing cost charged by an assisted living facility will not be covered by Medicare, residents of assisted living homes can still benefit from Medicare coverage for certain services.
Assisted living facilities typically have nurses on staff or nurses who visit throughout the day to treat injuries, illness and help manage medications. Any such medical (non-custodial) care received in an assisted living facility by a health care provider may be covered by Medicare in the same fashion that it would be covered at other facilities.
Medicare Advantage plans can cover home health care services
Medicare Advantage plans combine the benefits covered by Medicare Part A and Part B into one single plan sold by a private insurance company.
Many Medicare Advantage plans may also offer some additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental care and prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans cover the same home health care services that are covered by Medicare Part A and Part B.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer an expanded list of benefits that include:
- Transportation to doctor's appointments
- Grab bars in home bathrooms
- Healthier food options
- Air conditioners for people with asthma
- Home-delivered meals
- Home health aides to help with daily activities like dressing or eating
- Caregiver support services
Call today to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you compare Medicare Advantage plans that are available where you live. You may be able to find a plan that covers home health care, caregiver support and more.
Find Medicare Advantage plans that cover home health care
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About the author
Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a Senior Staff Writer for MedicareAdvantage.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options.
His work has been featured in outlets such as Vox, MSN, and The Washington Post, and he is a frequent contributor to health care and finance blogs.
Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
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