Medicare Home Health Care: What Part A Covers

Medicare Part A helps cover certain home health care services when you need skilled medical care at home. Covered services may include skilled nursing care, physical or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and limited home health aide services when medically necessary and provided by a Medicare-certified agency.

Home Health Care Benefits

Home health care allows you to receive skilled services in your home while recovering from an illness or injury. Depending on your needs, services include wound care, patient and caregiver education, injections, intravenous or nutrition therapy, and monitoring of complex or unstable health conditions.

For many people, home health care is more convenient and less costly than receiving care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. A Medicare-certified home health agency coordinates your doctor’s orders and helps ensure that covered home health services are delivered safely and efficiently in your home.

Home health care is eligible for Medicare coverage when the following conditions are met:

• You are enrolled in Medicare Part A
• You are under the care of a doctor and are receiving services under a plan of care created and reviewed regularly by a doctor
• A doctor must confirm that you need intermittent skilled nursing care or skilled therapy services, like physical therapy, speech therapy, or ongoing occupational therapy.
• The home health agency caring for you is Medicare-certified
• Your doctor must certify that you are homebound, meaning leaving home requires significant effort or is not medically advised without help from another person, transportation, or specialized equipment.

Medicare does not cover home health care if you need full-time skilled nursing. That said, homebound status still allows you to leave home for doctor visits or brief, occasional non-medical reasons.

Agent tip:

Medicare only provides home health care coverage when it’s medically necessary and ordered by a doctor. If your condition improves or your care plan isn’t updated regularly, coverage may end, even if you still feel you need help at home.

What Home Health Care is Covered?

Original Medicare, made up of Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance), covers certain home health aide services when they’re medically necessary and ordered by a doctor. Covered care may include part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, medical social services, and injectable osteoporosis drugs for eligible women.

What Medicare Part A Doesn’t Cover

The following services are not covered by Medicare Part A:

• Medicare Part A does not cover 24-hour home care or meal delivery services.
• It doesn’t cover help with daily tasks, such as cleaning, shopping, bathing, dressing, or using the restroom, unless it’s part of medical care.
• Homemaker or custodial care alone is not covered if it’s the only care you need.
• Non-medical services, including religious or spiritual services, when they are not part of an approved home health care plan.

According to the National Council on Aging, you may also incur a 20% cost of the Medicare-approved amount for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) after the Part B deductible, such as walkers, wheelchairs, or hospital beds.

How Much Does Home Health Care Cost?

In 2026, Medicare-approved home health care services have no Part A coinsurance. However, you may pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment (DME).

Bottom Line

Medicare Part A may help cover home health care when you need skilled medical services at home and meet specific eligibility requirements. While Medicare does not pay for full-time or custodial care, it does cover medically necessary skilled nursing and therapy services at no cost when provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency. Understanding what’s covered and what isn’t can help you plan ahead and get the right care at the right time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare Part A cover home health care?

Yes. Medicare Part A may cover home health care if you’re recovering from a hospital stay and meet all eligibility requirements. In some cases, home health services may also be covered under Medicare Part B, but the covered services and costs are the same for you.

Do I need to be homebound to qualify for home health care?

Yes. Your doctor must verify that you are homebound, meaning your condition makes it difficult or unsafe for you to leave your home. However, you can still leave your home for medical appointments or occasional, short non-medical outings.

How much does Medicare home health care cost?

If your care is Medicare-approved, home health services cost $0 under Medicare Part A or Part B. You may pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment, such as walkers or wheelchairs.

Does Medicare cover 24-hour home care or help with daily activities?

No. Medicare does not cover 24-hour-a-day home care or custodial care alone, such as help with bathing, dressing, or cleaning. Home health aide services are only covered when they’re part of a skilled care plan.

How long can I receive Medicare-covered home health care?

There’s no set limit on how long you can receive home health care, as long as your doctor continues to certify that skilled care is medically necessary and reviews your plan of care regularly.