When it comes to senior home care, many families have concerns about how they can pay for the necessary services. Does Medicare cover senior home care? This is a very common question and the answer is complex. 

According to Medicare.gov, Medicare does not directly cover in-home care services, however, there are certain programs that can help you pay for some of these costs. Here are five things to keep in mind:

• Medicare Part A may cover some skilled nursing services that are provided by a licensed professional in your home, such as physical therapy or speech therapy.
• Medicare Part B sometimes covers some medical supplies used at home, such as walkers or wheelchairs.
• State Medicaid programs may provide additional assistance with costs associated with personal care services and other needs.
• VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit may cover the cost of long-term care partially or in full.
• Finally, long-term care insurance plans may offer coverage for some in-home care services.

A doctor or other health care provider (like a nurse practitioner) must have a face-to-face visit with you before certifying that you need home health services. A doctor or other health care provider must order your care, and a Medicare-certified home health agency must provide it.

In most cases, “part-time or intermittent” means you may be able to get skilled nursing care and home health aide services up to 8 hours a day, with a maximum of 28 hours per week. You may be able to get more frequent care for a short time if your doctor or other health care provider determines it’s necessary.

Medicare doesn’t pay for:

• 24-hour-a-day care at your home
• Meals delivered to your home
• Homemaker services (like shopping and cleaning) that aren’t related to your care plan
• Custodial or personal care that helps you with daily living activities (like bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom), when this is the only care you need.