If you are confined to your home and require skilled care for an injury or illness, Medicare can pay for care provided in your home by a home health agency. A prior stay in the hospital is not required to qualify for home health care, and you do not have to pay a deductible for home health services.
Medicare Part A (or Part B if you do not have Part A) pays the entire bill for covered services for as long as they are medically reasonable and necessary. If you meet the eligibility requirements for the home health care benefit, Medicare covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing services, home health aide service, or physical, speech-language, and occupational therapy.
Besides paying for health care services, the home health benefit also covers the full cost of some medical supplies when billed by the home health agency and 80 percent of the approved amount for durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen supplies, and walkers.
Qualifying for Home Health Care: Medicare pays for home health care when these four conditions are met:
You can find a Medicare-approved home health agency by asking your doctor or your hospital discharge planner.
