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Yes, Medicare covers home health care (not just home care: it's medical and not custodial).

Yes, a doctor’s referral is required. You must get this first.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Medicare only pays for intermittant care. Usually if a doctor feels the need for physical therapy, wound care, etc. You will get an aide, for bathing maybe 2x a week for maybe an hour. You would need to ask for more time, in advance, if you want time to run an errand. Once the reason for the care has been resolved, Medicare will no longer pay.

If you are looking for an aide to come on a regular basis, Medicare does not pay for that. Medicaid may if the person fits a certain criteria.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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The referral for home health often happens when a person is being discharged from a hospital or snf/rehab facility. The hospital or facility sets it up and after being home for a day or so, the patient will be contacted by the home health agency. Medicare pays for this. I think the PCP can also put in a referral.
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Reply to Seekerone
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Call home health companies in your area. You can find a list on Medicare.gov compare. Link below.

Also the second link is a 30 page booklet that gives you details about what’s covered.

You will need a doctor’s referral. Some agencies are only interested in the discharged from hospital/rehab patients. Others work with both those and home bound patients. Talk to more than one to learn more about what’s available in your area.

https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/?providerType=HomeHealth

https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/en/assets/resources/home-health/Medicare-and-home-health-10969.pdf
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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If you want to hire a full-time aide, no, Medicare will not cover them. Private pay aides would not bill Medicare because Medicare does not pay for aides.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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