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Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover Home Health Care?
Date Updated: December 17, 2024
Written by:
Lauren Ferguson has over five years of experience as a freelance writer, specializing in senior care topics such as assisted living and memory care. She holds a degree in Liberal Studies and English from the University of Illinois Springfield. Having navigated the process of placing her mother in a long-term care community, Lauren offers a unique insider's perspective to families facing similar situations.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
No, Medicare Supplement plans do not cover home health care. These plans primarily help with out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare, such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. If you meet eligibility criteria, you can cover most home health care expenses with Medicare Part A and Part B.
What Are Medicare Supplement Plans?
Medicare Supplement Insurance, often called Medigap, provides additional coverage for costs that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not include. More specifically, this type of policy fills the "gaps" in your current plan's coverage by helping you pay for certain out-of-pocket expenses, such as copayments and coinsurance. You can only buy a Medigap plan if you have already enrolled in Original Medicare. Supplement plans do not include prescription drug coverage; beneficiaries usually need a separate Medicare Part D plan for medications.
Medicare Supplement plans offer standardized benefits in most states. Each plan provides a different level of coverage at varying price points. For example, Plan F covers most out-of-pocket costs, while Plan K offers partial coverage with lower premiums. All available Medigap plans cover coinsurance from Original Medicare, either fully or partially, and some policies also help pay for annual deductibles.
Home Health Care Coverage Through Medicare
The cost of home health care varies widely by location; for instance, as of 2024, expect to pay $40 per hour in Washington and $22 in Mississippi. These fees accumulate quickly if you need care several times a week. Fortunately, if you have Medicare and meet the eligibility criteria for home health care, Part A and Part B cover 100% of most home health care services, including:
- Skilled nursing care
- Physical, occupational and speech therapies
- Medical social services
- Home health aide care under certain circumstances
- Medical supplies
However, you must pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment after meeting the Part B annual deductible. As an example, the price of manual wheelchairs typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,000, leading to coinsurance costs between $200 and $400. Medigap plans may pay a portion or even the full amount of these out-of-pocket expenses.