Program
Medicare home health care
Medicare pays for nurses and therapists at home for a limited time when a doctor orders it. It does not pay for long-term home help.
What it can pay for
- a home care aide
- medical equipment
- assistive devices
- Official name
- Medicare Home Health Services (Original Medicare Parts A/B)
- Where
- Nationwide
- Status
- Program running
- About the amount
- $0 for covered services; 20% coinsurance on DME after the $283 Part B deductible (2026). Hours capped at 8/day combined, 28/week (up to 35 case-by-case). No lifetime cap on duration.
- Housing rules
- Care goes wherever you live that isn't a hospital, SNF, or nursing facility, including assisted living.
- How long it takes
- No official published timeline; recertification every 60 days.
- How to apply
- No application — ask your doctor, NP, or PA to order home health, or get it set up at hospital/rehab discharge; pick a Medicare-certified agency via Care Compare or 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Does not pay for
- Medicare pays the therapist to recommend a grab bar but won't pay for the grab bar itself. No 24-hour care, no home modifications, no PERS, no meals unrelated to the care plan.
- Official source
- medicare.gov
- Last checked
- September 28, 2026