When you can’t leave your home, your options are limited. Sure, you can take advantage of grocery delivery services and online shopping, but medical care? Some things are just too important to delay or neglect. And they’re too vital to entrust to just anyone.

If you or a loved one is facing this challenge, we want to give you assurance: 3HC is always here to treat you like family.

Through our home health care, we can provide short-term acute care for those who need it, when they need it most.

“Medical advancements in technology mean that we can now provide more services than ever through home health care,” said Dean Lee, COO. “We think this is a vital service to offer our patients, because efficient, quality home health care greatly reduces the chances of an unplanned hospitalization or trip to the emergency room.”

But accessing care is only part of the equation. How will you pay for it? Does Medicare cover home health care? We’ll examine Medicare’s role and provide useful information about how home health care can assist you or someone you love.

Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care? 3 Important Items for Consideration

The short answer is yes. However, there are certain qualifications and criteria you must meet to get this benefit. We’ll review these as important items you should consider.

1. Be sure you have the latest information

First, it’s vital that you speak with your representatives to ensure you have the latest, most up-to-date information on Medicare. Our team of professionals can help you get the answers you need.

We highly recommend that you take advantage of the informative resources on the government’s Medicare site to ensure that you understand your coverage and its limitations. This will also provide valuable facts about deductibles and what Medicare will and will not pay.

The requirements for Medicare coverage are often very detailed and sometimes complex, so we always tell our patients to have a good grasp on what is required for coverage.

2. You must be considered “homebound”

Does Medicare cover home health care? You must first show that you are homebound.

If you have Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B, you will be covered for eligible home health as long as you need services and are unable to leave your home.

What Is Homebound for Medicare?

The government has very specific guidelines on what is considered homebound. To be homebound, you must:

• Have difficulty leaving your home without help or specialized transportation. This may be assistance through another person or through use of a cane or wheelchair.
• Your healthcare team does not recommend leaving your home because of your medical condition.
• Have to make a major effort to leave your home— so as a result, you’re normally unable to do so and must remain inside.

3. The services must be covered

Not all home healthcare offerings are covered under Medicare. Medical equipment, medical supplies and physical and occupational therapy are just a few of the home health services covered.

The key word here is “medical.” That means the service or item must be directly related to your health care.

For example, Medicare will cover the cost of skilled nursing care, but it will NOT cover “homemaker” services such as shopping and cleaning that aren’t directly related to your health care plan.

What Is the Most Common Diagnosis for Home Health Care?

The most common diagnosis for home health care is circulatory and heart disease, which makes up around 47 percent of patients nationwide. Others include injuries, musculoskeletal diseases, and respiratory disorders (such as COPD).

Additional illnesses frequently treated in home health care are diabetes, stroke, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, according to information from the National Library of Medicine.

What Makes 3HC’s Home Health Care Services Different?

We recognize that there are several home health care agencies you can choose from, but when selecting a home health care agency you should consider not only the services offered, but the reputation of the agency and the dedication of its employees.

At 3HC, we have loyal employees, and many of them have been with our organization for more than 20 years. That type of dedication doesn’t come without a deep sense of dedication to others. This is why we mean what we say when we emphasize that we treat our patients like family.

We’ve been around for more than 40 years, serving counties from the Triangle area to the NC Coast. We’ve built our reputation on our compassionate caring for all ages in the places you call home.

Rest Assured in the Reliability of Our Home Health Services

Being homebound doesn’t mean missing out on quality care. We understand the challenges of needed medical care at home, and that’s why our healthcare team is here to help you or your loved one.

We’ll work closely with you so you have a solid idea of what services are covered and how you can maximize your benefits. Simply contact us to get started.