What Medicare covers at home
Part A and Part B cover home health care when you're homebound, a doctor or other provider has seen you in person and orders the care, and a Medicare-certified home health agency provides it. Covered services include:
- Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care.
- Physical therapy, speech-language therapy and, under certain conditions, occupational therapy.
- Medical social services.
- Home health aide care, but only alongside skilled nursing or therapy.
- Medical supplies and durable medical equipment.
What you pay
| Item | Original Medicare |
|---|---|
| Covered home health services | $0 |
| Durable medical equipment | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) |
Before giving you something Medicare won't pay for, the agency should tell you, and give you an Advance Beneficiary Notice. Medicare Advantage plans must cover home health care too, but may require network agencies and prior authorization.
What Medicare doesn't cover
- 24-hour-a-day care at home.
- Meals delivered to your home.
- Homemaker services such as shopping and cleaning that aren't part of your care plan.
- Custodial or personal care, such as bathing or dressing, when that's the only care you need.
Help at home in Ohio beyond Medicare
For long-term help at home, Ohio Medicaid runs home and community-based waivers for people who need a nursing-home level of care:
- PASSPORT, for Ohioans 60 and older, operated by the Ohio Department of Aging through local agencies. Services include personal care, homemaker, home-delivered meals, adult day, emergency response systems, home modification and respite. See the PASSPORT waiver.
- Ohio Home Care Waiver, for people under 60 with a physical disability.
- MyCare Ohio Waiver, for people in MyCare Ohio, the plans that coordinate Medicare and Medicaid for adults 21 and older with both.
Not on Medicaid? Your area agency on aging may offer meals, homemaker help or caregiver support for older adults: call 1-866-243-5678. A licensed insurance agent who works with Benefits Life can explain how home health works under Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, at no cost to you; you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Does Medicare cover nursing home care?
The 100-day skilled care rule.
Does Medicare cover assisted living?
Ohio's Assisted Living Waiver.
How do I get rides to the doctor?
County JFS rides and more.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Home health services
- Medicare.gov — Care Compare
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — Ohio's Home- and Community-Based Waiver Programs for Older Adults and People with Disabilities
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — PASSPORT 1915(c) waiver amendment (March 2026)
- Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 5160-44-33, Structured family caregiving
More questions in this guide
- Can I keep my doctor when I go on Medicare in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover assisted living in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover dental in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover diabetes supplies in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover eye exams and glasses in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover hearing aids in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover mental health care in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover nursing home care in Ohio?
- How do I get rides to the doctor with Medicare in Ohio?
Part of the guide: Medicare basics for Ohioans · All questions
Frequently asked questions
What does homebound mean for Medicare?
Medicare says you're homebound if leaving home isn't recommended because of your condition, or if you need help, such as a wheelchair, special transportation or another person, to leave home, and leaving takes a major effort. You can still go to medical appointments, religious services or adult day care.
Does Medicare pay a family member to care for my parent at home?
No. But Ohio Medicaid's structured family caregiving service (OAC 5160-44-33) lets a caregiver who lives with someone on the PASSPORT, Ohio Home Care or MyCare Ohio waiver provide daily care through an approved agency.
How do I find a home health agency in Ohio?
Use Medicare's Care Compare tool to find Medicare-certified home health agencies that serve your ZIP code and compare their quality ratings and patient surveys. If you have Medicare Advantage, ask your plan which agencies are in its network.
Medicare in your Ohio county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Summit · Montgomery · Lucas · Butler · Stark · Lorain · Warren · Delaware · Lake · Mahoning · Clermont · Trumbull · Licking · Medina · Greene · Fairfield · Portage · All 88 counties →
