Medicare and Home Health Care

Many health care treatments that were once offered only in a hospital or a doctor's office can now be done in your home. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. In general, the goal of home health care is to provide treatment for an illness or injury. Home health care helps you get better, regain your independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible. Medicare pays for you to get certain health care services in your home if you meet certain eligibility criteria and if the services are considered reasonable and necessary for the treatment of your illness or injury. This is known as the Medicare home health benefit. If you get your Medicare benefits through a Medicare health plan (not Original Medicare) check your plan's membership materials, and contact the plan for details about how the plan provides your Medicare-covered home health benefits. This publication has important information about the following: Who is eligible; What services are covered; How to find and compare home health agencies; Your Medicare rights. Also available in Spanish.