Medicare will help cover home health care if a doctor decides that you need skilled care in your home and prescribes or orders home care. You must need at least one of the following services: part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, or speech-language services. You must be homebound—normally unable to leave home without considerable and taxing effort. When you do leave home, you must need the assistance of another person or a device such as a walker, cane, or wheelchair. You must receive your services from a home health agency that is certified by Medicare. A beneficiary must meet all of these conditions to be eligible for Medicare home health assistance.

Medicare will help cover:

• Skilled nursing Care that can only be delivered safely by a registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse, such as injections and complex wound care.
• Home health aide services Help with personal care such as bathing, using the toilet, or dressing. Medicare does not cover these services unless you are also getting skilled care, such as nursing or other therapy.
• Therapy Physical therapy, speech-language services and occupational therapy.
• Medical social services Counseling to help with social and emotional concerns related to your illness.
• Certain medical supplies Wound dressings, ostomy supplies, and other supplies.
• Certain durable medical equipment Wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen, walkers, and other equipment.

Medicare does not pay for:

• 24-hour per day care in the home.
• Prescription drugs (with a few exceptions.)
• Meals delivered to your home.
• Homemaker services like cleaning, laundry, and shopping.

For more complete information about Medicare coverage or home health care:

Call 1-800-MEDICARE