What Medicare home health care may cover

Medicare lists medically necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, certain therapy services, medical social services, and some home health aide care when the related skilled-care requirements are met.

Medical supplies and certain durable medical equipment may also be part of covered home health care. Equipment can have separate cost sharing, so it should be reviewed apart from the covered home health visits.

A person generally must need part-time or intermittent skilled services and meet Medicare's homebound standard. Homebound does not mean a person can never leave home, but leaving normally must be difficult or not recommended because of the condition.

Eligibility is based on the care situation, not simply age, diagnosis, or a preference to receive help at home.

A health care provider must assess the need, order the care, and establish or review the care plan. The services must come from a Medicare-certified home health agency.

Before care begins, ask the agency which services Medicare is expected to cover and whether any item or service may require a written noncoverage notice.

Medicare lists 24-hour care at home, home-delivered meals, unrelated homemaker services, and custodial or personal care when that is the only care needed as noncovered under this benefit.

That boundary is important because help with bathing, dressing, shopping, or meals may feel health-related but does not automatically meet Medicare's skilled home health rules.

The Medicare.gov coverage page explains the Original Medicare home health benefit. People enrolled in Medicare Advantage should also check their plan's instructions, network, authorization process, and cost information.

Use Medicare's provider comparison tools and the care team to identify Medicare-certified agencies. Do not rely only on an agency's marketing description.