For all covered home health care services, including Home Care near Slatington PA, you don't pay anything. Original Medicare covers eligible home health services at no cost to you if you meet certain requirements. For durable medical equipment that meets the requirements (wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, etc.), non-specialized personal care includes activities of daily living (ADL), such as bathing, dressing, eating, household chores and health-related care that most people do on their own, how to inject insulin. A healthcare provider (such as a skilled nurse) must evaluate you face-to-face before certifying that you need Home Care near Slatington PA and other home health services. For physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or ongoing occupational therapy services, services should be considered specific, safe, and effective treatments for your condition and should be provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency.
The Medicare home health care benefit is not a long-term service and support program, and it doesn't provide unlimited coverage. Under Medicare Part B, you are eligible for home health care if you are homebound and need specialized care, even if you haven't been hospitalized before. Home care is primarily about helping a person receive care in their own home rather than in the hospital when appropriate. Medicare beneficiaries who meet certain criteria may be eligible for home health care under Parts A and B. They are generally not eligible for Medicare home health care benefits if they need full-time skilled nursing care for an extended period of time.
Medicare covers qualifying home health care services, including home health aides and some therapies, if you meet certain requirements. Even with all of this information, differentiating between home care and home health care can be confusing. However, skilled nursing and home health care services are only covered intermittently, which is defined as less than eight hours a day and 28 hours or less per week, once you receive care. If you need services other than intermittent skilled nursing or home health care services, Medicare won't cover them.
The costs and benefits may be different for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, so check with your plan to learn how they provide home health care benefits covered by Medicare. Your Medicare home health care benefits will not change, and your access to home health care services should not be delayed due to the pre-application review process.