Medicare Reminder
Medicare will help pay for your home care if all four of the following are true:
- You are considered homebound, meaning it is extremely difficult for you to leave your home.
- You need skilled care, which is care that is provided by either a nurse or a skilled therapy provider, such as a physical therapist, speech therapist, or occupational therapist. Your skilled care need must be intermittent, which means you need care no more than once per day.
- Your doctor certifies that you need home health care.
- You receive your care from a Medicare-certified home health agency (HHA).
Keep in mind that if you only need occupational therapy, you will not qualify for the Medicare home health benefit. However, if you qualify for Medicare coverage of home health care on another basis, you can also get occupational therapy. If you qualify for skilled care, you can also receive limited personal care (usually provided by a home health aide), but you do not qualify for Medicare-covered home health care if you only need personal care.