• Intermittent skilled nursing and home health aide services.
• Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy Services.
• Medical Social Worker Services.
• Durable Medical Equipment.
• Outpatient Therapy when being seen by a home health nurse.
• Respiratory Care Services.
• Medical supplies needed for your care.

If you meet all four of the conditions for home health care (homebound, skilled need, physician order, intermittent care), Medicare will cover:

• Skilled nursing care on a part-time or intermittent basis. Skilled nursing care includes services and care that can only be performed safely and correctly by a licensed nurse (either a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse).
• Home Health Aide Service, on a part-time or intermittent basis. A home health aide does not have a nursing license. The aide provides services that support any services that the nurse provides. These services include help with personal care, such as bathing, using the toilet, or dressing. These types of services do not need the skills of a licensed nurse. Medicare does not cover home health aide services unless you are also getting skilled care such as nursing care or other therapy. The home health aide services must be part of the home care for your illness or injury.
• Physical therapy, speech language pathology services, and occupational therapy for as long as your doctor says you need it.

  1. Physical therapy, which includes exercise to regain movement and strength to a body area, and training on how to use special equipment or do daily activities, like how to get in and out of a wheelchair or bathtub.

  2. Speech language pathology services, which includes exercise to regain and strengthen speech skills.

  3. Occupational therapy, which helps you become able to do usual daily activities by yourself. You might learn new ways to eat, put on clothes, comb your hair, and new ways to do other usual daily activities. You may continue to receive occupational therapy even if you no longer need other skilled care.

• Medical social services to help you with social and emotional concerns you have related to your illness. This might include counseling or help in finding resources in your community.

What Does Medicare NOT Cover?

Medicare does not pay for the following:

• 24-hour per day care at home.
• Meals delivered to your home.
• Homemaker services like shopping, cleaning and laundry.
• Personal care given by home health aides, like bathing, using the toilet, or help in getting dressed when this is the only care you need.