Part A covers inpatient hospitalizations, care in skilled nursing facilities, palliative care, and some home health care. For eligible patients, Medicare covers the costs of all home health care services the doctor deems necessary, ensuring that these patients don't have to pay out of pocket. You may leave your home for medical treatment or brief, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, such as attending church services. Home health care includes a wide range of social and health services that are provided at home to treat illnesses or injuries. You'll need a doctor's authorization, usually through an in-person meeting with your doctor, at the hospital or doctor's office, within 90 days before you start home care services or up to 30 days after you start home care.
Then, the doctor must sign a “home health care certificate” that designates what specific home health care services you need, why you need them, for how long, and what the desired outcome should be. Home health care services treat a wide range of conditions that are often experienced by patients age 65 and older. If you are homebound due to injury or illness or have recently been hospitalized, you may need home health care services. Medicare covers many different home health care services as long as you are eligible for Medicare Part A or Part B coverage.
A home health care assistant can help you with daily activities, such as dressing, eating, bathing, and going to the bathroom. If you think you'll want to get Medicare at some point in your life, you'll most likely need to know when you can and should enroll. These home and community services may vary depending on the patient's location and program requirements. Medicare will review the information and cover services if the services are medically necessary and meet Medicare requirements.
If you qualify for home health care, you can receive skilled nursing and rehabilitative care from approved home health agencies. Medicare is a federal health insurance program that serves as a life support system for people age 65 and older. Medicare Part A covers the first 100 days of home health care services, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements of being basically confined to your home and needing specialized care to recover from the injury, illness, or condition that precipitated hospitalization. Home care services covered by Medicare Part B If you need home health services for more than 100 days, Medicare Part B may cover these services.
Patient eligibility is determined through a patient evaluation with the approval of the patient's primary care physician or social worker.
