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Does Medicaid Cover Temporary Home Care?
Date Updated: January 10, 2025
Written by:
Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.
Reviewed by:
Kristi Bickmann, a licensed Long-Term Care Specialist, represents top-rated "Traditional" & "Hybrid" LTC companies. Serving associations such as the American Nurses Association, she's a licensed insurance agent in 27 states. Specializing in insurance products for seniors, Kristi helps hundreds of families every year protect assets, retirement, and loved ones. She understands aging concerns firsthand, having assisted her own parents. Kristi ensures accuracy on topics about senior long-term care and its consequences.
Medicaid covers temporary home care for eligible individuals. While some states cover nonmedical home care through regular Medicaid, most provide funding through Home and Community-Based Services Waivers or Section 1115 Demonstrations Waivers. Rules and coverage vary nationwide. Conversely, home health care services fall under traditional state Medicaid programs.
Home Care Overview
Home care aides deliver nonmedical support services that enable older individuals to retain their independence and safety at home. Some older adults benefit from temporary hands-on assistance or companionship while recovering from an injury, illness or surgery. Others use short-term professional home care services to maintain care continuity when a family caregiver needs a break, for example, because of sickness or work obligations. Agencies tailor support plans to meet specific needs and preferences. Services include:
- Help with day-to-day tasks around the home, such as laundry, housekeeping and meal preparation
- Running errands, such as posting mail and collecting medications
- Personal care assistance, including using the toilet, getting dressed and maintaining bodily and oral hygiene
- Companionship
- Local transportation
Individuals must satisfy citizenship, residency and financial criteria to qualify for Medicaid home care funding. States also include conditions regarding functional needs; many require a need for nursing home admission without in-home support.
Home Health Care Overview
Home health care includes clinical and rehabilitative services, and agencies design personalized care plans with medical professionals and hospital discharge planners. Temporary services help seniors heal at home following a hospital stay, accident or sickness. They may also help individuals learn to manage chronic conditions independently. Care teams comprise nursing aides, nurses, medical social workers and therapists, and services include:
- Skilled nursing, such as wound care, medication administration, IV therapy and catheter care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy
- Nutritional guidance
- Personal care assistance
- Medical social services
- Medical transportation
- Patient and family education regarding ongoing care
Home health care doesn’t include domestic chores, errands or leisure activities. To receive Medicaid funding for home health care, individuals must qualify for state Medicaid programs, and a doctor must prescribe home health services.
Other Ways to Pay for Temporary Care at Home
Medicare Parts A and B cover doctor-ordered, medically necessary home health care for eligible individuals. However, it only pays for personal care in limited situations and doesn’t cover domestic assistance or companionship. VA benefits cover home care and home health care for qualifying veterans. Other payment options include:
- Self-pay using income and savings
- Long-term care insurance
- Family financial support
- Reverse mortgages
- Private loans
- Charitable grants