If you are a Medicare beneficiary (who is enrolled in Part A, Part B or both), Medicare will cover your home health 100% if you meet the following four conditions:
- A doctor must prescribe or order home care.
- You must need at least one of the following services:
- Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care including but not limited to nursing for wound care, catheter care, monitoring after hospitalization, teaching on new medications or diagnoses.
- Physical therapy including but not limited to therapy after a break, surgery, post-stroke, after an extended illness.
- Speech-language services.
- You must be homebound. This means that it takes a considerable and taxing effort to leave your home, and when you do leave home, you require the assistance of another person or an “assistive device,” such as a walker, cane or wheelchair. This does not mean you may never leave your home. You may leave your home at any time for medical care, approved adult day care or religious services. Absences from home for any other reason must be infrequent or for short periods of time, such as family events or outings.
- You must receive your services from a home health agency that is certified (or approved) by Medicare.