Can Medicare help cover in-home care for dementia patients who wander or need supervision 24/7?

Answered by 14 licensed agents

Answered by Aaron Solomon on May 4, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH, LA & TX

Answered by Aaron Solomon Medicare Insurance Agent
Home health care initiated by your doctor is covered. Long term care is not covered by medicare. So it will depend on what definition it is listed as. Consult your doctor on which it could be.

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown on May 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AL, CO & 10 other states

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare itself does not usually cover patients who wander or need supervision 24/7. If this becomes the case, I recommend LTC insurance. Long Term Care insurance can provide coverage for this. For more details call or email today.

Answered by Michael Denniston on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 11 other states

Answered by Michael Denniston Medicare Insurance Agent
While Medicare does not cover nursing homes, memory care centers, or in home caregivers, there can be coverage through Part A under hospice benefits. Because Alzheimer's Disease is a terminal condition, Medicare will cover hospice care in advanced stages.

Answered by Angie Templin on May 5, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX

Answered by Angie Templin Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare does not cover Long Term Care. 24/7 Supervision of a dementia patient is Long Term Care. There are strategies that can be employed. It is a good idea to talk to a broker about options available.

Answered by Katheryn Evans on May 20, 2025

Agent Licensed in WA, AZ, CA & 13 other states

Answered by Katheryn Evans Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare generally doesn't cover 24/7 in-home care for dementia patients who wander or need constant supervision, but it can cover part-time, intermittent care for those who are "homebound" and need skilled nursing or therapy. This means Medicare Part A may cover up to 35 hours per week of home health services, but not 24-hour-a-day care.

Answered by Fred Manas on May 4, 2025

Agent Licensed in NY, CT, DC & 7 other states

Answered by Fred Manas Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare supplement plans provide in-home treatment for medically necessary needs

They do not act as babysitters if you will

They will come into your home to administer medication as needed and other medical Care

They do not do housekeeping or any other type of domestic work

If you have Medicare advantage plan, then you have to make sure that the home Care company will take your plan. That's why Medicare supplement plans are always better because if the home care company takes Medicare, they will automatically take your plan

Answered by Gary Henderson on May 4, 2025

Agent Licensed in TX, AK, AL & 46 other states

Answered by Gary Henderson Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare generally doesn't cover 24/7 in-home care for dementia patients who wander or need constant supervision, but it can cover part-time, intermittent care for those who are "homebound" and need skilled nursing or therapy. Medicare may cover home health services, including skilled nursing, physical therapy, and speech therapy, if a doctor deems these services medically necessary and the person is "homebound". However, Medicare doesn't cover personal care like bathing or dressing, or homemaker services like laundry and shopping

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian on May 29, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AR & 22 other states

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare does not cover around the clock supervision or personal care. Long Term Care insurance helps with ADL's "activities of daily living" and dementia specific needs. Depending on the policy it may help cover personal home care.

Answered by Donnie Vermillion on May 6, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX

Answered by Donnie Vermillion Medicare Insurance Agent
Yes, through the cognitive assessment and care plan services that will look for signs of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Signs of cognitive impairment include trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, managing finances, or making decisions about your everyday life. Your doctor should check on you and give you are care plan, including supervision 24/7 if indeed needed.

Answered by Dominic Javier on May 5, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX

Answered by Dominic Javier Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare may cover limited in-home care for dementia patients, but only if skilled nursing or therapy is medically necessary. It does not cover 24/7 supervision or custodial care, such as help with wandering or personal care. Long-term care services like that are typically not covered.

Answered by Carl-Daniel Cole on May 20, 2025

Broker Licensed in MO, AL, AR & 23 other states

Answered by Carl-Daniel Cole Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare covers in-home care for dementia only if skilled services are needed (like nursing). It doesn’t cover 24/7 supervision or help with wandering.

Answered by Angelique Solomon on May 5, 2025

Broker Licensed in AL, FL, GA & 5 other states

Answered by Angelique Solomon Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare does not generally cover 24/7 in-home custodial care for dementia patients, even if they wander or need constant supervision.

Answered by Curtis Stoner on May 4, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, KY & LA

Answered by Curtis Stoner Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare does not usually cover this home health care. This would fall under long term care. Medicare is health insurance and not convulsant care.

Answered by Rhonda Byers on May 5, 2025

Broker Licensed in GA & OH

Answered by Rhonda Byers Medicare Insurance Agent

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