Care-at-home guide
Medicare Home Health vs. Home Care
Medicare home health is a defined clinical benefit. Nonmedical home care provides personal and household support that Medicare generally does not cover by itself.
Comparison
Home health and home care solve different problems
| Medicare home health | Nonmedical home care |
|---|---|
| Provider-ordered clinical plan of care | Service agreement based on daily-living needs |
| Skilled nursing or therapy must be needed | Skilled clinical need is not required |
| Homebound status generally required | No Medicare homebound test |
| Part-time or intermittent services | Hours can range from occasional visits to continuous paid support |
| Medicare-certified home health agency | Private-duty agency, independent caregiver or family |
Homebound
Leaving home must require considerable effort
Medicare considers a person homebound when leaving home is difficult because of illness or injury, a supportive device or another person’s help is needed, or leaving home is medically inadvisable. Occasional absences for medical care, religious services and limited nonmedical events do not automatically defeat homebound status.
Covered team
What a home health episode can include
- Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing.
- Physical therapy and speech-language pathology.
- Continuing occupational therapy. For the therapy benefit beyond home health, see Medicare Therapy Coverage.
- Medical social services.
- Medical supplies and certain durable medical equipment.
- Part-time home health aide services while skilled nursing or therapy is also being received.
The agency and clinician periodically review whether eligibility and skilled need continue.
Not covered by the benefit
The hours families need can exceed Medicare’s benefit
Medicare home health does not cover 24-hour care at home, meal delivery, shopping, laundry, cleaning or personal care when those are the only needs. A short skilled visit can be covered while the family remains responsible for many hours of supervision and daily assistance.
Ask for a realistic weekly schedule. “Home health was ordered” does not mean someone will remain in the home throughout the day.
Paying for additional help
Look beyond Medicare for custodial support
Options can include Medicaid home- and community-based services, veterans programs, long-term-care insurance, Area Agency on Aging programs, private payment and family caregiving. Eligibility and availability vary. The Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 connects families with local aging resources.
Frequently asked questions
Home Health or Home Care? Questions
Will Medicare pay someone to stay with me all day?
No. Medicare home health is part time or intermittent and focused on qualifying skilled services.
Can a home health aide help with bathing?
Yes, on a part-time basis when you also receive qualifying skilled nursing or therapy and the aide service is part of the plan of care. Personal care alone is not covered.
Can I leave home and remain homebound?
Yes. Occasional absences for medical care, religious services and limited events can be consistent with homebound status.
Does Medicare Advantage cover more home care?
Some plans offer limited supplemental in-home benefits, but eligibility, hours and vendors are plan-specific. They are not a substitute for assuming comprehensive long-term home care.
Primary references
Official Sources
- Medicare.gov: Home health services
- Medicare.gov: Long-term care
- Administration for Community Living: Eldercare Locator
Reviewed against official sources on August 22, 2026. Medicare and state program rules can change; verify current requirements before acting.
Independent Medicare guidance
Make the Next Decision With the Actual Details in Front of You
Benjamin Thompson can help compare the Medicare insurance options represented by Thompson Medicare Brokerage using your doctors, prescriptions, coverage priorities and budget.
Thompson Medicare Brokerage is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This page provides general educational information. Coverage, costs, eligibility, networks, formularies and enrollment rights depend on individual facts, location, plan and coverage year. Thompson Medicare Brokerage does not offer every plan available in every area; Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE and SHIP can provide information about all available options.