07/17/2026
š„ Medicare generally limits skilled nursing and home health aide services combined to up to eight hours a day and 28 hours a week, with limited short-term exceptions.
To qualify, you must be homebound, need intermittent skilled nursing or qualifying therapy, have a doctor or allowed provider order and oversee a plan of care after a face-to-face visit, and use a Medicare-certified agency.
Under Original Medicare, approved home health services cost $0, while durable medical equipment generally costs 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage members should check their own plan's rules and network, since coverage and costs can differ.
A home health aide can help with bathing and dressing, but only while skilled nursing or therapy is also part of the plan.
Custodial care is different: ongoing help with bathing, dressing, meals, and supervision when no skilled care is needed, and Medicare pays nothing toward it on its own.
That gap surprises families coordinating care for a parent, because both kinds of help happen at the same kitchen table.
Possible sources of help include Medicaid, some long-term care insurance policies, and certain VA benefits, depending on eligibility and coverage terms.
Have you run into this line while arranging care for a parent, and which program ended up paying?
*The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.*
