Paying for Home Health Care: Do You Know Your Options?
June 2, 2022
By Danielle Andersen
Insurance May Cover Home Health Care If the Patient is ‘Homebound’ and Requires Skilled Care
Home health care can be a considerable and unexpected expense for many people, but there is some good news out there – you may not have to pay for it at all.
Many insurance plans cover part of all of home health care services if the person receiving the care is considered to be “homebound” and requires a skilled service like therapy or skilled nursing.
What does “homebound” mean? Well, it means:
- You need help from a person and/or device to leave your home safely
- It takes considerable effort for you to leave your home
- You leave your home infrequently only for short periods of time
And there’s more good news: Home health care may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, VA, private pay, or waiver programs.
While home health care treatment is covered for the homebound under most insurance plans, there are some restrictions. Services that are not covered include:
- 24-hour at-home care
- Cleaning or personal care if these are the only care needed
- Household services such as shopping, cleaning, and laundry when they are not related to the patient’s care plan
What Is Home Health Care?
Home health care is a term used to describe a wide range of services that are provided in a patient’s home during or after an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive than care in a hospital or another health care facility, while it is also more convenient and just as effective.
Home health care services can include:
- Wound care
- Intravenous or nutrition therapy
- Injections
- Medication management
- Pain management
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Monitoring and management of a chronic illness
What Are the Benefits of Home Health Care?
In addition to being less expensive and more convenient, home health care has a number of benefits:
- Recuperation times are often faster
- Patients have more independence and greater self-sufficiency
- Serious health declines are slowed
- Symptom management can be better
What Types of Conditions Can Be Covered by Home Health Care?
Home health care can treat both chronic and acute conditions, including:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic obsessive pulmonary disease
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Recovery from illness or surgery
- Chronic conditions or injuries
Want to Learn More About Home Health Care?
Ethos Home Health Care has a team of home health care specialists ready to serve you. Would you or a loved one like home health care services but are not sure what is included or how to pay for it? Contact us today – our team will work with you to determine your eligibility and your level of coverage, all with the goal of getting you the home health care you need.
