Will Medicare help my client pay my salary and secondary insurance help pay for his care?

Tararball asked...

I am a cerified medical assistant as well as a certified nursing assistant. I have worked in the medical profession for 30 years. I have been hired by the spouse of my client (my client has dementia) for home healthcare. Will Medicare help him pay my salary and secondary insurance help pay for her care?

Expert Answer

Medicare home care coverage is limited in a number of ways. First of all, the patient must need, as prescribed by a doctor, part-time skilled nursing care or rehabilitative physical or speech therapy. Also, care is only covered by Medicare if the patient is confined to home while recovering from a specific illness, injury, or acute condition. Once the patient is no longer actively "recovering," or if the patient needs care because of a long-term condition (like dementia) or general frailty, Medicare will not cover it.

Another rule about Medicare home care coverage also probably rules out coverage for care you might provide. Medicare only covers home care provided by a Medicare-certified home health care agency. Unfortunately, this leaves out registry nurses, private therapists, certified medical assistants, and other independent caregivers. Unless you are working as part of a Medicare-approved agency, Medicare will not cover the care you provide.