Does Medicare cover home healthcare?

4-minute readPublished 03/28/2024Updated 08:05 PM EST, 05/26/2026

A provider smiles while taking the blood pressure reading of a patient in their home.

Yes, Medicare covers home health services if your doctor orders them and they’re medically necessary. To be eligible, you must be considered “homebound” and need only part-time assistance. Medicare Parts A and B can help cover services like part-time skilled nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy.¹

Let’s explore how home healthcare and Original Medicare work together.

Key points

Medicare covers specific home health services like part-time skilled nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
You must be considered “homebound” and need only part-time assistance to qualify.
If you’re eligible for coverage, you pay $0 for home health services and only 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment (DME) .

What is home healthcare?

Skilled home healthcare includes a wide range of services that are provided in your home to help you manage a chronic condition or recover from an injury, illness, surgery or hospitalization. Services may include:¹

Wound care for pressure sores or a surgical wound
Patient and caregiver education
Intravenous or nutrition therapy
Physical or occupational therapy
Injections
Monitoring patients whose condition is unstable

Note: If you need full-time skilled nursing care for a long time, it’s unlikely that you’ll be eligible for home healthcare services.²

Which parts of Medicare cover home healthcare?

Depending on your personal situation, you may get home healthcare coverage from either Medicare Part A or Part B —or sometimes from both. 

A doctor or other healthcare provider (like a nurse practitioner) must have a face-to-face visit with you before certifying that you need home health services. In addition, a Medicare-certified home health agency must provide healthcare in your home.

Learn more about Medicare

Get started with Humana Medicare today

Humana Medicare plans offer benefits beyond what Original Medicare covers. Explore all of the plans available in your area today!

ZIP code

4-minute readPublished 03/28/2024Updated 08:05 PM EST, 05/26/2026

Who’s eligible for home healthcare services?

Here are the conditions to qualify for home healthcare:¹

You’re under a doctor’s care.
You need only part-time skilled nursing care, physical therapy or occupational therapy.
You’re homebound. This means leaving your house is very hard without help from another person, special transportation, or a cane, walker or wheelchair .

Which home healthcare services are covered by Medicare?

Medicare helps pay for a variety of home healthcare services if you’re eligible. Here’s a list of each covered service and what it includes.¹

Which home healthcare services are covered by Medicare?
Covered services	What it includes
Skilled nursing care	Part-time or intermittent medical care provided by a registered or licensed practical nurse.
Physical therapy	Exercise routines and treatments to help restore your physical strength and movement.
Occupational therapy	Specialized guidance to help you safely perform daily tasks like dressing and bathing.
Speech-language pathology	Therapies to improve your communication, swallowing or breathing abilities.
Medical social services	Counseling and assistance with finding community resources to aid your recovery.
Home health aide services	Part-time help with personal care, covered only if you also receive skilled nursing or therapy.

Which home healthcare services are not covered by Medicare?

While Medicare pays for most medically necessary treatments, it doesn’t cover everything. You’ll generally have to pay out-of-pocket for these services.¹

Which home healthcare services are not covered by Medicare?
Services not covered	Description
24-hour home care	Around-the-clock medical or personal assistance at your house.
Meal delivery	Food preparation or hot meals brought to your door.
Homemaker services	General household tasks like cleaning, shopping or laundry not related to your care plan.
Personal care only	Help with bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom (if you’re not eligible for skilled nursing or therapy).

What is the cost of home healthcare?

All eligible Medicare recipients pay the following for skilled home health services:¹

$0 for home health services
20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment (DME) like a walker, wheelchair or hospital bed

Before home healthcare begins, your home health agency should explain your bill. This includes what Medicare will help cover, what Medicare won’t cover and how much they anticipate you’ll owe (if anything). The details of what isn’t covered by Medicare must be given to you in an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) before you receive any uncovered items or services.³

Learn more about Medicare coverage

For information on prescriptions, home health services and more, check out what Medicare does and doesn’t cover .

Frequently asked questions

1. What’s the difference between personal home care and skilled home health services?

Personal home care services help with daily living activities, like getting dressed, fixing meals or bathing. Skilled home health services are provided by specially trained nurses and therapists. They can help you manage a chronic condition or recover from an injury, illness, surgery or hospitalization—all in the comfort and safety of your home.

2. Does Medicare cover home healthcare for people with dementia?

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers a separate visit with a doctor or healthcare provider to fully review your cognitive function, establish or confirm a diagnosis like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and develop a care plan. Medicare Part A and/or Part B may cover care in the home under certain conditions. If a dementia patient is currently under the care of a doctor who certifies that the patient is essentially housebound, they may qualify to receive healthcare at home.²

3. Does Medicare cover 24-hour home healthcare?

No. Medicare generally doesn’t cover 24-hour home healthcare. If you need full-time medical support, you’ll need to explore other options like Medicaid, private insurance or paying out of pocket.