Medicare Part B benefits help pay for home health services, including caregivers. However, it doesn't cover 24-hour care, meal delivery, or personal attention when personal attention is all that's needed. No, Medicare does not cover 24-hour home care under any circumstances. The Medicare home health care benefit is designed for part-time or intermittent care and is generally limited to a maximum of 8 hours per day and 28 hours per week (with possible extensions to 35 hours under certain circumstances).
It's important to note that Medicare doesn't cover home care, cleaning services, food delivery, or 24-hour personal care when that's the only care you need. Medicare covers 100% of the cost of home health services, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The home health agency must inform you of the costs before services begin and provide advance notice to the beneficiary (ABN) for any service that is not covered by Medicare. While managing Medicare home health care benefits may seem complex, the basic coverage requirements are simple.
Qualifying for home health care under Medicare may seem like a complex process, but it's fully manageable with the right information and resources. Medicare will only cover these services for patients who are receiving concurrent skilled nursing care. If you make sure you meet the eligibility criteria, choose a Medicare-approved home health agency, and understand your rights and responsibilities, you can access the care you need to maintain your health and well-being at home. 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.
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. If you're having difficulty understanding your benefits or finding the right care, an elder care advocate can provide you with essential guidance and support to ensure you receive all the benefits you're entitled to while identifying additional resources to fill any gaps in coverage. If you're enrolled in the original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan, you don't pay anything for home health care 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. While Medicare usually pays the bill for services such as skilled home nursing or physical therapy, it usually doesn't cover care that's just custody.
