All Medicare beneficiaries can get home health care benefits, if you meet the following conditions:

1. Your doctor decides you need medical care in your home, and makes a plan for your care at home, and

2. You need at least one of the following: intermittent (and not full time) skilled nursing care, or physical therapy or speech language pathology services, or a continued need for occupational therapy, and

3. You are homebound. This means you are normally unable to leave home and that leaving home is a major effort. When you leave home, it must be infrequent, for a short time. You may attend religious services. You may leave the house to get medical treatment, including therapeutic or psychosocial care. You can also get care in an adult day-care program that is licensed or certified by a state or accredited to furnish adult day care services in a state, and

4. The home health agency caring for you must be approved by the Medicare program.

 Medicare currently covers ("pays for") the following home health care services:

1. 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).

2. Home health aide services 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.

3. Physical therapy, speech language pathology services, and occupational therapy for as long as your doctor says you need it.

Medicare covers these types of therapy:

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.

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

5.     Certain medical supplies, like wound dressings, but not prescription drugs or biologicals.

6.    Medical equipment, Medicare usually pays 80 percent of the approved amount for certain pieces of medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or walker.

Most of the time, your doctor, a social worker, or a hospital discharge planner will help arrange for Medicare-covered home health. However, you have a say in which home health care agency you use.  For long-term home health care that is not covered by Medicare, you may make your own arrangements.