Medicare covers certain part-time or intermittent skilled services at home when you are homebound, need qualifying care, and use a Medicare-certified home health agency.
Medicare can cover certain part-time skilled care at home if you are homebound and meet its other requirements. This may help after an illness, injury, or a loss of strength or ability.
Who Qualifies?
You generally must:
- Stay under the care of a doctor or qualified provider
- Need intermittent skilled nursing care (care needed from time to time), physical therapy, or speech-language therapy
- Meet Medicare’s homebound requirements
- Receive care from a Medicare-certified home health agency
- Have a provider document your need, order care, and regularly review your care plan
To be homebound, you must meet both parts of Medicare’s test. First, your illness or injury must make leaving home medically unsafe or require help, special transportation, or a device such as a walker. Second, you must normally be unable to leave home, and leaving must take a great deal of effort.
You may still qualify if you leave for medical care or occasional short trips for other reasons.
You need a visit with a doctor or qualified provider about the main reason you need home health care. The visit can be up to 90 days before care starts or within 30 days after it starts. A telehealth visit may count if it meets Medicare’s rules. Your provider must still order and certify the care. CMS explains the visit rules.
If occupational therapy starts along with another qualifying skilled service, it can continue on its own after that other service ends, as long as you still meet the coverage rules. Medicare’s home health guidance explains this requirement.
What Can Medicare Cover?
Covered services may include:
- Skilled nursing
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Medical social services
- Medical supplies
- Part-time home health aide care while you are also receiving qualifying skilled care
With Original Medicare, you generally pay nothing for covered home health services. The Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance apply to covered durable medical equipment.
What Is Not Covered?
Medicare does not pay for:
- 24-hour care at home
- Meal delivery
- Shopping, cleaning, or other homemaker services unrelated to the care plan
- Personal care, such as help bathing or dressing, when that is the only care needed
The agency should tell you in writing if it expects Medicare not to cover an item or service.
Review Medicare's full home health coverage requirements.
At the agency’s first visit, ask which services and visit schedule Medicare will cover and which help you must arrange separately. Part-time or occasional skilled visits do not provide a caregiver throughout the day. Request the agency’s written explanation of any expected noncovered charges.
Medicare policy sources last checked: October 8, 2026.