Yes — Medicare covers home health care, and when you qualify, your share of the cost for the covered services is $0. The catch is that “home health care” under Medicare has a specific definition, and it’s not the same as ongoing custodial help with daily living. Here’s exactly what’s covered, who qualifies, and how long it lasts.
What Medicare Means by “Home Health Care”
Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) covers skilled, part-time or intermittent care delivered in your home, including:
- Skilled nursing care (wound care, injections, monitoring a serious condition)
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology
- Part-time home health aide services — but only while you’re also getting skilled care
- Medical social services
- Certain medical supplies and durable medical equipment (you pay 20% for equipment)
Who Qualifies (The 3 Rules)
To get Medicare home health coverage, all of these must be true:
- A doctor certifies you need skilled care and signs a plan of care that’s reviewed regularly.
- You’re “homebound” — leaving home requires considerable effort and you generally don’t leave except for medical care or short, infrequent outings.
- A Medicare-certified home health agency provides the care.
If you meet these, Medicare pays 100% of the approved amount for the skilled services — there’s no copay and no deductible for the home health visits themselves.
How Much Does It Cost?
For covered home health services, you pay $0 out of pocket. The only cost you might see is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment like a walker.
For the covered home health services, you pay $0. The only out-of-pocket cost is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment (like a walker or wheelchair) provided as part of your care. People sometimes ask “how much does Medicare pay for home health care per hour?” — Medicare doesn’t pay an hourly rate to you; it pays the certified agency directly for the covered visits, so you don’t see an hourly bill at all.
How Long Will Medicare Pay?
Medicare keeps paying for home health care as long as you still need skilled nursing or therapy, with no set week limit, but visits must stay under 8 hours daily and 28 hours weekly.
There’s no hard cap on weeks, but coverage continues only as long as you remain eligible and need skilled care. Care is “intermittent” — generally fewer than 8 hours a day and 28 or fewer hours a week (sometimes more for a short period). Once you no longer need skilled nursing or therapy, the home health benefit ends, even if you’d still like help around the house.
What Medicare Does NOT Cover at Home
This is where people get surprised. Medicare home health does not cover:
- 24-hour-a-day care at home
- Custodial care — help with bathing, dressing, eating, or housekeeping — when that’s the only care you need
- Meal delivery
Long-term custodial care is generally covered by long-term care insurance or Compare Medicare Quotes Online or Medicaid, not Medicare. If ongoing personal care is your real need, plan for it separately rather than assuming Medicare will fill the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare cover in-home care?
Medicare covers skilled in-home care (nursing and therapy) when you’re homebound and a doctor orders it — at $0 for the services. It does not cover purely custodial in-home help (bathing, dressing, housekeeping) when that’s the only care you need.
How long will Medicare pay for home health care?
As long as you continue to qualify — meaning a doctor certifies you still need intermittent skilled care and you remain homebound. There’s no fixed week limit, but coverage stops once skilled care is no longer needed.
How do I qualify for home health care under Medicare?
You need a doctor’s certification that you require skilled care, you must be homebound, and the care must come from a Medicare-certified home health agency. Meet all three and Medicare covers the eligible services.
How much does Medicare pay for home health care per hour?
Medicare doesn’t pay you an hourly rate — it reimburses the certified home health agency directly for covered visits, so there’s no hourly charge to you for the skilled services. You only pay 20% for any durable medical equipment.