Part A covers inpatient hospitalizations, care in skilled nursing facilities, palliative care, and some Home Care near Baldwin MD. Medicare covers qualifying Home Care near Baldwin MD services, including home health aides and some therapies, if you meet certain requirements. It also covers some outpatient Home Care near Baldwin MD. Part A is free if you worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You may also be eligible because of your current or former spouse's work.
Medicare Part B (health insurance) doesn't usually cover common medical supplies you normally use at home, such as bandages and gauze. Medicare covers some supplies such as durable medical equipment. No, Medicare usually covers 100% of all approved home health care costs, but you may have to pay 20% of the amount approved by Medicare for any durable medical equipment. The costs and benefits may be different for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, so check with your plan to find out how they provide home health benefits covered by Medicare. However, Medicare home care benefits can cover personal care that is provided in conjunction with eligible home care services, such as transitional home care.
Ask the home health agency what services Medicare will pay for and which aren't covered, since some agencies may recommend services that Medicare doesn't cover. To qualify, your loved one must first meet the eligibility criteria for home health care covered by Medicare. However, you may be responsible for 20% of the amount approved by Medicare for durable medical equipment and the standard Part B deductible applies. You're generally not eligible for Medicare home health care benefits if you need full-time skilled nursing care for an extended period of time.
Before you start getting home health care, the home health agency must tell you how much Medicare will pay. When your other home health care needs end, you can continue to receive occupational therapy covered by Medicare under the home health benefit, if you need it. To determine eligibility, Medicare defines “intermittent care” as less than seven days a week or every day for less than eight hours a day for up to 21 days. No, Medicare won't pay for non-medical home care if this is the only type of service a person needs.
As part of this demonstration, your home health agency can submit to Medicare a request for a pre-claim review of coverage for home health services. Under Medicare Part B, you are eligible for home health care if you are homebound and need specialized care, even if you haven't been hospitalized before.