Home Health Care is covered by Medicare

As healthcare becomes more efficient and sometimes less invasive, treatment doesn’t necessarily require a hospital or doctor’s office. That also means that the critically ill or immobile patients don’t have to go through the burdensome process of leaving their home.

If you’re wondering whether Medicare covers home health care services, the answer is, yes.

Are you covered by Medicare?

Home health care services are covered under Original Medicare—Part A and Part B. As long as you qualify you should have no out of pocket costs. Before Medicare covers your home health care treatment you have to be deemed eligible. Make sure you meet these criteria:

• You’re under the care of a doctor and that plan is reviewed regularly by the doctor.
• You and your doctor agree that you need skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech or language services, or continued occupational therapy.
• The home health care agency is Medicare-approved.
• Your unable to leave your home without major effort or your doctor recommends that you not leave your home.
• Your doctor, or an eligible representative of your doctor like a nurse practitioner, must have face-to-face encounters with you at certain intervals to address the reason you need home health care.

Finally, home health care is normally “intermittent”— less than 7 days per week for less than 8 hours each day and 28 hours per week for up to 21 days. If you need full-time skilled nursing care, you won’t usually qualify.

What can Medicare Cover?

Skilled Nursing– A registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) may provide services like giving IV drugs, injections, feeding tube maintenance, teaching about diabetes care, and more.