Part A covers inpatient hospitalizations, care in skilled nursing facilities, palliative care, and some home health care. Medicare pays for Home Care near Gloucester City NJ for eligible, homebound older people who require essential medical services for the treatment of an illness or injury. A doctor or other medical professional must request home health care services and these must be provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency. Personal care services, such as help with activities of daily living (ADL), may also be covered if they are provided as part of a general plan that includes skilled nursing care. The agencies that offer these services are called home care agencies and should not be confused with home health agencies that offer home health care services.
Older adults often need additional assistance at home as they age, and some assume that Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly, will cover the cost of a caregiver to help them with daily tasks. The agency must also tell you (both verbally and in writing) if Medicare won't pay for the items or services it provides and how much you'll have to pay for them. To better understand the difference, think of home care as helping you do everyday activities (things that make life easier or more comfortable), while home health care involves services that a doctor can prescribe to treat a medical condition or to recover from surgery or injury. Medicare Part B covers part of the cost of medically necessary wheelchairs, walkers, and other home medical equipment (Medicare will not cover electric wheelchairs that are only needed for use outside the home). Medicare will pay for what are considered intermittent nursing services, meaning care is provided less than seven days a week or every day for less than eight hours a day, for up to 21 days.
It's important to note that home care is fundamentally different from home health care, which is medically oriented. The benefits of Medicare home health care services will not change, and the pre-application review process should not delay access to home health services. Because of the high cost of long-term care, many states have higher Medicaid income limits for long-term care benefits than for other Medicaid plans. Home care services allow older people to age in their place of residence, helping them to perform a variety of personal tasks without the need for full-time medical supervision.
Medicare covers home health care services that are considered reasonable and necessary for the treatment of an illness or injury. In most cases, part-time or intermittent services mean that you may be able to receive skilled nursing care and ancillary home health services for up to 8 hours a day (combined), for up to 28 hours a week. It can also help pay for assisted living centers, which offer older people the ability to live independently, albeit with help. 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.
