Elderly or retired recipients of Medicare are able to use their benefits to pay for home health care. There are some requirements that must be met, but if you qualify you are able to receive skilled home care instead of going to a nursing home or other assisted care facility

How to Qualify

There are some restrictions on who may qualify for this benefit. The requirements are:

  • You are confined to your home due to health reasons. This means that to go to a doctor or their facility would require “considerable and taxing effort” according to Medicare.
  • You need to receive home health care based upon the orders of your physician or doctor for a specific reason.
  • The services that are provided to you must be considered “skilled.” This means services like home nursing care, physical therapy or other care along the same lines.

Cost and Amount of Care

While the maximum benefit is up to 35 hours per week, few actually qualify for this level of care. The level of service that you receive is not limited based upon your membership in an HMO or the fee-for-service traditional Medicare plan. The costs involved are typically fully covered, except for 20 percent of the cost of your medical supplies or any other specialized equipment that might be necessary.

If you need legal assistance to help you get Medicare benefits you think you deserve, then contact the elder law experts at Stano Law group today!