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Home health is skilled, intermittent care—not full-time help
Medicare home health generally covers intermittent skilled care (skilled nursing and/or therapy) when criteria are met, often including being homebound and having a plan of care. It typically does not cover long-term custodial help like full-time supervision, housekeeping, or ongoing personal care.
Why it Matters
Families often expect home health to provide ongoing daily help, then feel blindsided by limits.
Action Steps
Ask: “What skilled services are being ordered?”
Ask: “Do I meet the homebound criteria?”
If long-term help is needed, start planning for non-Medicare resources early.
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