Are Home Care Services Covered by Medicare? 

If you're considering home care services in Columbus, MS, cost is likely factoring into your decision. You may be wondering if Medicare could cover some of the expenses. Read on for important insight into an often-misunderstood topic. 

Understanding Home Care  Services 

At their core, all such services have one aspect in common. They offer individuals the advantages of receiving assistance in their own homes rather than at a hospital or assisted living facility. For seniors, such aid may be in the form of personal care, companion 
care, and dementia care, for example. Personal care involves helping seniors with their daily needs, while companion care provides seniors company to bolster their emotional and mental states. 

Dementia care is for individuals with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, and its primary focus is supervision and mental stimulation activities. These scenarios typically do not encompass traditional medical care, but clinical home health care that employs certified and trained clinicians (like nurses) is available. This type of care covers medical needs and therapies. 

Medicare's Impact in Columbus, MS and Beyond 

Medicare is a government-run health coverage service that helps pay for a wide range of medical needs for senior citizens, from preventive screening to chronic care to emergency room visits. It includes Part A, or hospital insurance, and Part B, or medical insurance. Parts A and B do cover some clinical home health care for seniors, such as physical therapy, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, and medical supplies. 

Medicare-covered clinical home health care must be directed and planned by a physician, it must utilize skilled nursing care, and it must be part-time. If a patient needs full-time nursing services or has a condition that is not expected to improve, these circumstances generally void Medicare eligibility. Qualifying clinical home health care typically receives full coverage. 

Medicare and Non-Clinical Care 

In most cases, however, traditional Medicare Parts A and B, unfortunately, do not cover non-medical care in the home. If a patient is receiving clinical home health care, however, some costs of non-clinical custodial care may be covered in conjunction with the clinical care. Typically, this exception is only granted if the care (such as dementia care, in some cases) is given by a skilled nurse.

Supplemental Medicare Coverage 

One important option does exist for home caregivers wishing to secure Medicare assistance. Private insurance companies may offer supplemental health care coverage for seniors known as Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C. This coverage is overseen and regulated by the Medicare system, which ensures that it offers benefits equal in quality to traditional Medicare. 

A qualifying standard for covered care under Advantage is the maintenance of health and independence. Therefore, many non-clinical at-home services are eligible, including personal and respite care. Because private insurance companies do offer this coverage, however, the specific eligible services will be at their discretion. As such, patients should check with the insurance provider to determine coverage and exclusions. 

Give your family and yourself peace of mind. Contact ComForCare Home Care and schedule an in-home assessment tailored to your needs today. 

ComForCare Can Help You 

At ComForCare, you and your family can get quality care that fits your budget. If you need help with financing, we offer a variety of options to fit your needs. Contact us today at (662) 244-7226 for more information.

Whether your loved one needs assistance only a few hours a week or around-the-clock, our team is happy to help! Call (662) 244-7226 to learn more about the transition care services offered through ComForCare Home Care (Columbus, MS).