What type of Medicare coverage do I need to cover in-home caregivers?

Question

Gary Church · Accepted Answer

Okay, I have a question that came in. What type of Medicare coverage do I need to cover in-home care? Medicare doesn't cover home care. Medicare will cover skilled nursing, which is if you've been in the hospital at least for three days, but not well enough to go home, and you're going to go to a skilled nursing facility where you're going to have rehab. Medicare will pick those days up, at least the first 20 days, depending on which Medicare plan you have. So hopefully that answers your question.

Mike Alexander · Answer

Medicare does not cover caregivers, you would need a home care policy or a ltc policy to cover these servicies

Mark Bilgere · Answer

Medicare does not cover in-home caregivers. Medicare covers some home health care when prescribed by a doctor, nut does not pay for any type of custodial care. There are many short term care and long term care policies available that help with the cost of home care.

Answered by Mark Bilgere on September 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AR, IN & LA, MN, NE & OK

Answered by Mark Bilgere Medicare Insurance Agent

Lynn C Shurtleff · Answer

You would need to check with Medicaid for custodial care, Medicare does not cover this type of care and most plans don't either. Medicaid through your state is where to start but it will be income based. Also if you have some long term care insurance, that should cover it too. There are some plans that may cover very limited care after a hospital or inpatient rehab stay, but they are very limited. Medicare also does not cover custodial care in a facility as well, again that would be Medicaid and after resources are exhausted.

Answered by Lynn C Shurtleff on September 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AR, CO & 6 other states

Answered by Lynn C Shurtleff Medicare Insurance Agent

Cheri Rogers · Answer

Original Medicare Part A & Part B and Medicare Advantage Plans can cover some in-home caregiver services but only if it is deemed you are homebound by a doctor. In sum instances this could cover skilled nursing, physical therapy, or aide services that are medically necessary. 
Medicare does not cover 24 hour care or long-term care.

Randall Taylor · Answer

Medicare and Medicare type plans like Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans do not cover in-home caregivers. However, there are insurance policies available for purchase to cover that.

Bill Green · Answer

So whatever Medicare plan you need in order to have in-home caregivers, there's two types of home caregivers. There's the medical skilled ones, like someone who's coming in to change your wound or help with IV infusions and that sort of thing. Those could be covered under any Medicare plan, whether it's a Medicare supplement or your deductible.

With Medicare Advantage plans, you'll have some costs with it. More likely, though, you might be asking about in-home caregivers, like just a home health aide, someone to help around the house with what's called custodial care. So unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for any custodial care, really anywhere. It used to many years ago, but they don't have that built in anymore.

That's why it's important when you're able to qualify health-wise that you purchase either a home health care policy or a short-term or long-term care plan. Care here has gotten really expensive for the past three years. There are new ways of doing it to make it more cost-effective and better overall. Short-term care can really suffice for a lot of situations. It’s relatively inexpensive, and home health care as well is even less costly.

It can provide what you need, so it's important to look for those things before you actually need care. If there's any question about this, I'm happy to help out. Here at Grand Church,

Corey Romero · Answer

Honest answer: Medicare doesn’t really cover that the way most people hope it does.

If you need help at home with everyday stuff like bathing, getting dressed, cooking, or just someone to be there so you’re not alone, that’s considered custodial care, and Medicare isn’t going to pay for it. Doesn’t matter how much you need it or how long you’ve paid into the system.

Now, if a doctor orders skilled medical care at home like a nurse, physical therapy, or wound care then Medicare might cover that short-term. But it has to meet very specific rules, and even then, it’s limited.

Some Medicare Advantage plans throw in a few hours of in-home support as an “extra benefit,” but it’s usually not something you'd want to rely on for full-time support.

So yeah, this one’s frustrating. People assume Medicare will help more with this kind of thing, but if you need ongoing in-home care, you’re usually looking at long-term care insurance, Medicaid (if you qualify), or paying out of pocket. There are also short-term care policies that can work in a way that is very beneficial to these circumstances for those who are unable to get a long-term care policy later in life.

Not a fun answer, but that's just the way it is and you’re better off knowing that upfront than finding out the hard way.

Antonia Nevarez · Answer

Medicare covers in-home caregivers only for part-time or intermittent skilled care, like skilled nursing, physical, or occupational therapy, and only if you are homebound and a doctor certifies the need for these services. Medicare does not cover ongoing, non-medical custodial care, such as help with daily living activities like bathing or housekeeping, when that is the only service needed.

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Medicare cubre a los cuidadores a domicilio solo para atención especializada a tiempo parcial o intermitente, como enfermería especializada, fisioterapia o terapia ocupacional, y solo si usted está confinado en su hogar y un médico certifica la necesidad de estos servicios. Medicare no cubre la atención de custodia continua no médica, como la ayuda con las actividades de la vida diaria, como bañarse o realizar las tareas del hogar, cuando ese sea el único servicio necesario.

Kristen Skinner · Answer

As far as home health is concerned, unless they are on hospice, medicare does not cover that anymore. I do have plans that would cover home health care up to a year. It can pay up to $1200 a week or less.

Answered by Kristen Skinner on March 30, 2026

Broker Licensed in OK

Answered by Kristen Skinner Medicare Insurance Agent

Constance Phillips · Answer

Medicare Part B will help pay for in-home healthcare which includes caregivers. Medicare Part B does not cover meal delivery services, 24- hour care or any personal care services if that is all that is needed. Some Medicare Advantage Plans can help with the out-of-pocket costs.

Answered by Constance Phillips on October 19, 2025

Agent Licensed in OH

Answered by Constance Phillips Medicare Insurance Agent

Juan Osborn · Answer

Medicare Part A and Part B (also called original Medicare) or a Medicare Advantage Plan. To qualify, a doctor must certify you are homebound, need skilled care, and have a specific illness or injury.

Mary Gicker · Answer

Medicare does not cover in home caregivers for long term coverage. Once you go into what is no longer considered "skilled" care or long term care, per Medicare, you are 100% out of pocket unless you have a specific coverage for that care.

Answered by Mary Gicker on April 6, 2026

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

Answered by Mary Gicker Medicare Insurance Agent

Gary Henderson · Answer

Original Medicare and Medicare supplement plans will cover for medical reasons. In-home caregivers from a licensed agency 
Medicare supplement plans may or may not, especially HMO plans. Those are more than likely not going to cover in-home care again. Caregivers are paramedical reasons only. If you need help with cleaning, making meals, all those kinds of things. Those are not covered by Medicare or Medicare advantage policies?

Mary Brown · Answer

To cover in home caregivers for help with daily living, you’ll generally need Medicaid, a Medicare Advantage plan with home support benefits, or long-term care insurance because Original Medicare does not pay for custodial caregivers.

Answered by Mary Brown on September 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in NJ, DE, FL & NC, OH, PA & TX

Answered by Mary Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Mark Boone · Answer

Medicare Parts A and B can cover home health care if a doctor certifies you are homebound and need skilled nursing care. Coverage includes skilled nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Home health aides are covered only when they also provide skilled care, such as help with bathing or walking, as part of a larger care plan. Personal care and 24-hour care are not covered. Most Medicare Advantage plans also cover home health care.

Answered by Mark Boone on October 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in MN, FL, MI & NC, OH, SC & VA

Answered by Mark Boone Medicare Insurance Agent

Julie Thompson · Answer

Medicare for the most part does not cover in-home caregiving. Medicare will cover training for your caregiver if your type of care requires training. You would pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount and your Part B deductible would apply. There is some limited caregiver care in some Medicare Advantage plans. The best policy to get to cover in-home care is a Long Term Care policy. Unfortunately, generally if a person does not have this type of policy prior to needing this in-home care they most likely will not qualify for this coverage.

Answered by Julie Thompson on October 8, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AZ, KY, NV & TN

Answered by Julie Thompson Medicare Insurance Agent

Glenn Alterman · Answer

Typically you will need a med Supp
as most home health providers prefer billing original Medicare and not MAPD plans that may or may not offer this service in your area.  

Please contact me  I will enroll you in a med Supp plan and a no premium or low premium Part D 

Glenn

Gina Pranzitelli · Answer

Original Medicare will pay for limited, part-time or temporary Medicare approved services as long as you are under a doctors care, have a care plan and are homebound. You can visit Medicare.gov for more information.

Answered by Gina Pranzitelli on February 2, 2026

Agent Licensed in TX, AZ, CA & 22 other states

Answered by Gina Pranzitelli Medicare Insurance Agent

Dorthea Hughes · Answer

Both Part a and part b cover in home care givers.  Medicare part c covers in home care givers as well..

Richard Allen · Answer

You will need to have your agent enroll you in a Medicare Advantage Plan in your zipcode that covers in-home caregivers.

Kevin Price · Answer

Medicare coverage does not handle in-home care caregivers for that level of care. You need to take out a private long-term care insurance policy. You have to be healthy enough to qualify and you have to pay a monthly premium.

Answered by Kevin Price on March 23, 2026

Agent Licensed in VA, NC & SC

Answered by Kevin Price Medicare Insurance Agent

Jelly Marco · Answer

Medicare Part A and B covers Medical home care only, like a skilled nursing care, and the doctor needs to order the care or it's kind a like a prescription. Some Medicare Advantage plan Part C of Medicare has extra benefits, which may include: Limited in-home support services, Adult day care and Care coordination but if you want to have a Long-term caregiver that help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, cooking, it is cover under Medicaid.

Answered by Jelly Marco on March 27, 2026

Agent Licensed in TX

Answered by Jelly Marco Medicare Insurance Agent

What type of Medicare coverage do I need to cover in-home caregivers?

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