Home Health Care Services: What They Include, Who Qualifies and What They Cost
When someone is recovering from surgery, living with a long-term condition or getting older, care at home can be a good choice. But the terms are confusing. “Home health care” and “home care” sound alike, yet they mean different things and are paid for in different ways. This guide explains home health care services, who qualifies for Medicare coverage, what they may cost and how to find a good agency.
By the U Heal Life editorial team. Last updated: November 2026. This is general information, not medical, legal or insurance advice. We are not licensed clinicians.
Quick answer: Home health care is medical care given at home that a doctor orders, such as skilled nursing, physical, occupational or speech therapy, medical social services and, when tied to those, a home health aide. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers it if you are under a doctor’s care, a doctor certifies that you are homebound and need skilled care, and you use a Medicare-certified agency. If you qualify, you generally pay $0 for covered services (20% for durable medical equipment). Non-medical home care is different and is often paid for privately, at a national median of about $33 an hour in one 2024 survey.
Table of Contents
What Are Home Health Care Services?
Home health care is care for an illness or injury that is provided where you live. It is usually short term, ordered by a doctor and given by licensed professionals. It is often used after a hospital or nursing facility stay, or to manage a new or changing health condition.
Common services include:
- Skilled nursing care: wound care, injections, medication teaching and monitoring of health conditions
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Medical social services
- Home health aide help with bathing, dressing or walking, but under Medicare only when you also receive skilled care
- Medical supplies and equipment, such as dressings or a walker
Home Health Care vs Home Care
| Home health care | Home care (non-medical) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Skilled medical care ordered by a doctor | Help with daily living, companionship and household tasks |
| Who provides it | Nurses, therapists and aides from a home health agency | Caregivers, aides or companions |
| Usually paid by | Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or other insurance when you qualify | Mostly private payment, long-term care insurance or some Medicaid programs |
| Typical length | Short, planned visits for a set period | Hours or days as needed, can be long term |
Who Qualifies for Medicare Home Health Coverage?
Medicare says you generally need all of these:
- You are under the care of a doctor or allowed provider, and you get services under a care plan they review regularly
- A doctor or allowed provider certifies that you need intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology or continued occupational therapy
- They certify that you are homebound. This does not mean bedridden. Leaving home takes a lot of effort, but you can still leave for medical care, religious services or adult day care
- The agency is Medicare-certified
“Intermittent” means skilled care needed fewer than 7 days a week, or less than 8 hours a day for a limited time. Medicare asks for a new certification about every 60 days if care continues.
What Medicare Does Not Cover
- 24-hour-a-day care at home
- Homemaker services such as cooking or cleaning when that is the only care you need
- Personal care, such as bathing, if it is the only care you need
What Does Home Health Care Cost?
- With Medicare, when you qualify: you generally pay nothing for covered home health services, and 20% for durable medical equipment
- Private pay: one 2024 survey found a national median of about $33 an hour for home health care or an in-home aide, with big differences by state. A skilled nursing visit often costs more
- Other help: Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid programs, long-term care insurance and the VA may help in some cases
If you are caring for a family member, you may also qualify for leave from work. See FMLA for mental health and family care for how job-protected leave works.
How to Find a Home Health Agency
- Ask your doctor or the hospital discharge planner for names
- Use Medicare’s Care Compare tool to find Medicare-certified agencies and see quality ratings
- Confirm that the agency is licensed in your state and Medicare-certified
- Ask which services they offer, how soon they can start and how they handle after-hours calls
- Ask who will pay and what you may owe, in writing if possible
Getting Started
- Talk to your doctor about whether home health care fits your needs
- Check your coverage: read does Medicare cover therapy and does Medicaid cover therapy for how these programs work
- If you need emotional support as a caregiver, see what an Employee Assistance Program is
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Health Care
What is the difference between home health care and home care?
Home health care is skilled medical care a doctor orders. Home care is non-medical help with daily tasks.
Does Medicare pay for home health care?
Yes, if you meet the rules, including being homebound and needing skilled care from a Medicare-certified agency.
Does Medicare cover a home aide?
Only when you are also getting skilled nursing or therapy. Aide care alone is not covered.
How long can I get home health care?
As long as you qualify and your doctor certifies the need. Medicare asks for recertification about every 60 days.
How much does it cost without insurance?
Private pay is often around $30 to $35 an hour nationally, but prices vary by place and service.
Helpful resource: Medicare.gov home health services
Related Reading
- Does Medicare Cover Therapy?
- Does Medicaid Cover Therapy?
- Does Health Insurance Cover Therapy?
- FMLA for Mental Health
- What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical, mental health, legal or insurance advice. Rules, services and availability change, so please confirm details with your plan, the official source or a licensed provider. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US) or your local emergency number right away.