Home health care services provide individuals with a convenient means of receiving medical and support care without having to leave the comfort of their own homes. These services aim to promote independence and quality of life while helping manage chronic or serious illness/disability effectively. Unfortunately, however, many are unclear who qualifies for home health care and how to acquire these services.
To qualify for Medicare home health care coverage, patients must fulfill certain criteria. They must be considered homebound due to health conditions; need intermittent skilled services provided by healthcare providers like nurses or physical therapists; and be approved by their doctor as reasonable and necessary services.
Typically, doctors do not order home health care for anyone who does not meet the above requirements; however, there may be exceptions. If a person with ALS loses balance often and falls frequently, their doctor may order home health care and recommend other therapies and treatments, such as speech therapy or occupational therapy to assist their condition.
Medicare is just one of many state and private programs offering home health care services, with eligibility criteria differing considerably between programs. Therefore, individuals should research all options available to them carefully to ensure they apply for benefits appropriate to them.
Individual states will determine eligibility requirements for Medicaid home health care differently; typically individuals aged 65 or over with limited income and assets can meet them to qualify. Furthermore, they will need to enroll in Medicaid where they live – individuals can find more information by visiting their state’s Department of Health and Human Services website.
Individuals can qualify for home health care by applying for a Medicaid waiver, which acts as financial assistance and allows individuals who would normally qualify for institutional Medicaid to access homecare services instead. Income and asset limits will differ by state; typically though they’ll be higher than what Medicaid allows. Individuals considering this option should reach out to their local Medicaid office to discover more about eligibility requirements for the waivers of interest. State governments have also established consumer-directed personal care and attendant care programs, which enable individuals to hire their own caregivers instead of depending on a private agency for these services. Such programs can be extremely helpful for people requiring assistance with daily activities like bathing and dressing.