How to Get Short-Term Home Health Care Without Breaking the Bank

Let’s say you end up in the hospital after a fall and get surgery on your knee and have not completely healed from your injury after spending at least 3 days. 

The discharge documents from your physician will include information about you being homebound and needing short-term skilled care. The documents will also include a plan of care that notifies Medicare and health care agencies of the services and equipment you will need while being cared for. Once this happens you are now eligible to receive home health care from a Medicare-approved agency.
The Medicare will however cover only care for specific services:

Skilled nursing care and rehabilitative care from approved home health care services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, medical social services, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and other services provided in your home.

• Skilled nursing care

A nurse comes to your home to treat your illness or injury. This is covered on a part-time basis. You can only get this care from a registered or licensed practical nurse. Medicare pays for a nurse to watch you and see if your condition changes. It also pays for a nurse to teach you and your caregivers how to take care of you.

• Rehabilitative care

Physical, speech-language and occupational therapy: You can get treatments to help you improve or maintain your ability to move, talk, swallow and do daily activities for as long as your doctor says you need them. These are called physical therapy and speech and language therapy services. If you get this kind of skilled therapy at home, you can also qualify for home health aide care.