Eligibility

If you have Medicare, you can use your home health benefits if you meet all the following conditions:

To be eligible for the home health benefit, a physician must certify that the patient meets the following requirements.

Be confined to the home;
Under the care of a physician;
Services are provided under a plan of care established and periodically reviewed by a physician;
Be in need of skilled nursing care on an intermittent basis or physical therapy or speech-language pathology; or
Have a continuing need for occupational therapy.
The home health agency caring for you must be approved by Medicare.
You must be homebound and a doctor must certify that you’re homebound.
To be homebound means the following*:

*A homebound person may leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons such as attending religious services. You can still get home health care if you attend adult day care, but you would get the home care services in your home.
Leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition.
Your condition keeps you from leaving home without help (such as using a wheelchair or walker, needing special transportation, or getting help from another person).
Leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort.
Home health care is the only Medicare benefit that is offered at NO COST to homebound patients meeting the criteria to receive these services. At this time there are NO COPAYS and as long as you remain eligible for care, you are allowed UNLIMITED episodes of care.