Last updated: April 2026

Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Short answer: Yes — and most people are shocked by how good this benefit is. Medicare covers skilled home health care at 100% with no copayment and no deductible. The key is knowing whether you qualify and what services are actually included.

The Medicare Home Health Benefit — At a Glance

💰

Your Cost

$0 copay · $0 deductible

✅

Coverage

100% of approved services

📅

Duration

No time limit (60-day episodes)

🏥

Covered by

Medicare Part A or Part B

🔁

Renewals

Unlimited if you still qualify

⚠️

Exceptions

DME: 20% coinsurance applies

What Medicare Covers (The Full List)

When you qualify, Medicare covers all of the following at no cost to you:

🏥

Skilled Nursing

Wound care, IV therapy, injections, medication management, disease monitoring, catheter care, post-surgical care.

🦵

Physical Therapy

Exercises to restore strength, balance, coordination, and mobility after surgery, injury, or illness.

✋

Occupational Therapy

Training to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) safely — bathing, dressing, cooking, using the toilet.

💬

Speech Therapy

Treatment for swallowing disorders (dysphagia), communication impairments, and cognitive issues.

👐

Home Health Aide

Personal care — bathing, grooming, dressing — but ONLY while you are also receiving skilled nursing or therapy.

🤝

Medical Social Work

Counseling, care planning, connecting you to community resources, and helping navigate the healthcare system.

What Medicare Does NOT Cover

This is where many families are caught off guard. Medicare home health has real limits. It does not cover:

✗24-hour or around-the-clock nursing care Even if your condition is complex, Medicare home health is intermittent — a few visits per week, not continuous care.
✗Homemaker and housekeeping services Cleaning your home, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking are not covered — even if you cannot do these tasks yourself.
✗Custodial personal care without a skilled need If you only need help bathing or dressing but do not simultaneously need skilled nursing or therapy, Medicare will not pay for the aide.
✗Meal delivery or food preparation Programs like Meals on Wheels are separate and not part of the Medicare home health benefit.
✗Transportation Getting to and from appointments is not covered under home health.
✗Long-term custodial care Medicare is not designed to fund ongoing daily assistance. For long-term custodial needs, Medicaid (if income-eligible) or private long-term care insurance are the primary options.

The 4 Eligibility Requirements

To unlock this benefit, you must meet all four criteria. Miss any one of them and Medicare will not pay:

You Are Homebound

Leaving home must require considerable effort due to your medical condition. You CAN still leave occasionally for appointments, religious services, or rare personal reasons — being homebound does not mean being completely confined.

Your Doctor Orders Skilled Care

A physician, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist must certify that you need home health services and establish a plan of care. Medicare will not pay without this order.

You Need Skilled Care

You must need at least one of: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. Home health aide services alone are not enough to qualify.

Medicare-Certified Agency

The home health agency providing your care must be certified by Medicare. You can search our directory to find certified agencies near you.

How Long Does Medicare Cover Home Health?

There is no time limit on Medicare home health coverage. Services are approved in 60-day episodes of care. At the end of each episode, your doctor recertifies whether you still qualify. As long as you remain homebound and continue to need skilled care, Medicare keeps paying.

Some patients receive Medicare home health care for months or years — through recovery from major surgery, managing chronic conditions, or gradual functional decline. The key is that each 60-day period must be medically justified.

⚠️ Watch for this: If your condition improves enough that you no longer need skilled care — for example, you've fully recovered from surgery — Medicare coverage ends even if you still need some help. At that point, non-medical home care or family caregiving takes over.

Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare

If you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan instead of Original Medicare, you are still entitled to the same home health benefit — but how it works in practice can differ:

Factor

Original Medicare

Medicare Advantage

Your cost

$0 copay/$0 deductible

Plan-specific; may have copays

Agency choice

Any Medicare-certified agency

Usually must use in-network agencies

Prior authorization

Not required

Often required

Covered services

Standard CMS benefit

At minimum matches CMS; some plans add more

🏥

Find Home Health Agencies Near You

Compare Medicare-certified home health agencies in your area. View CMS star ratings, services offered, and contact information — all free.

Find Home Health Agencies Near You →

✅ How to Qualify for Medicare Home Health Services → 🔄 Home Health vs. Home Care: What's the Difference? → 🏠 What to Expect From Your First Home Health Visit →

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare cover home health care?

Yes. Medicare Part A and/or Part B covers home health care at 100% — no copayment, no deductible — as long as you meet the eligibility requirements and use a Medicare-certified agency. To qualify, you must be homebound, your doctor must order skilled care, and a face-to-face encounter must have occurred within the required timeframe.

Is there a copay or deductible for Medicare home health?

No. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) pays 100% of covered home health services with no copayment and no deductible. The one exception: if durable medical equipment (DME) is ordered as part of your care plan, you pay the standard 20% Part B coinsurance for the equipment only. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, check your Evidence of Coverage — cost-sharing may differ.

What does Medicare home health NOT cover?

24-hour or around-the-clock nursing care, meal delivery, housekeeping and homemaker services, personal care (bathing, grooming) without a simultaneous skilled care need, custodial care that helps with daily activities but does not require clinical skills, transportation, and long-term care. Home health aide services ARE covered, but only when you are also receiving skilled nursing or therapy.

How long will Medicare pay for home health care?

There is no set time limit. Medicare covers home health care in 60-day episodes that can be renewed indefinitely as long as you remain homebound, continue to need skilled care, and your doctor recertifies the plan of care each period. Many patients receive home health care for months — and some for years — without losing coverage.

Does Medicare Advantage cover home health the same way?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover the same home health services as Original Medicare. However, the cost-sharing (copays, prior authorization requirements, and network restrictions) can differ significantly by plan. Some MA plans require you to use in-network agencies. Always verify coverage with your specific plan before starting services.

What is a 60-day episode of care?

Medicare pays for home health services in 60-day periods called "episodes of care." At the start of each episode, your doctor must certify that you still qualify. There is no limit to the number of episodes you can have. If your condition changes significantly mid-episode, the plan of care can be updated and a new episode may begin.