--- title: "What Is Home Health Care? Services, Medicare, How to Start" description: "Home health care is skilled nursing and therapy at home, ordered by a doctor. What it includes, when Medicare pays, and how to choose an agency." url: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-health-care/ updated: 2026-10-09 site: Senior Transition Assistance --- Care at home # What is home health care? Home health care brings skilled nursing and therapy into the home, often after a hospital stay. It's medical care, it's ordered by a doctor, and Medicare often pays for it. Talk it through with a person[ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388) Free. We listen, explain your options, and introduce you to a few that fit. You decide. Quick answer Home health care is skilled medical care at home: nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, and some aide help, ordered by a doctor and given by a licensed home health agency. Medicare pays for covered home health services in full when your parent is homebound and needs part-time skilled care. It's different from in-home care, which is non-medical help paid privately. [(800) 614-8388](tel:+18006148388) if you need help arranging care at home. **Last updated October 9, 2026** Costs are published medians or typical ranges with a named source, never quotes. Every community and agency prices differently. **On this page** 1. [ What home health care includes](#g-what-home-health-care-includes) 2. [Who it's for](#g-who-it-s-for) 3. [Who pays](#g-who-pays) 4. [Choosing a home health agency](#g-choosing-a-home-health-agency) 5. [Questions](#g-faq) ## What home health care includes - **Skilled nursing:** wound care, injections, IV therapy, monitoring a serious illness, teaching about medications. - **Physical therapy:** strength, balance and walking after a fall or surgery. - **Occupational therapy:** relearning daily tasks like dressing and bathing. - **Speech-language therapy:** after a stroke, or for swallowing problems. - **Home health aide** help with bathing and dressing, alongside skilled care. - **Medical social services.** ## Who it's for Home health care is usually short-term, for recovery after a hospital stay, surgery or a change in a chronic condition. Visits are scheduled, not round-the-clock. If your parent needs ongoing help with daily life, add [in-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/), which had a 2025 median of $34 an hour in Kansas and $33 in Missouri (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025). ## Who pays Medicare pays for covered home health services when the rules are met: your parent is homebound, needs part-time or intermittent skilled care, and a doctor has seen them and ordered care from a Medicare-certified agency. Medicare Advantage plans also cover home health, sometimes with their own rules. Medicaid and private insurance may cover it too. Details: [does Medicare pay for home health care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/paying-for-it/medicare-home-health/). ## Choosing a home health agency 1. Ask the doctor or hospital discharge planner for a referral, and know that you can choose the agency. 2. Compare agencies on Medicare's Care Compare, which shows quality ratings and patient survey results. 3. Ask how soon they can start and how often visits will be. 4. Ask who to call after hours. ### Need care at home after a hospital stay? We'll help you understand the options and find private help for the hours home health doesn't cover. Free. [ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388)[Have us call you](#g-form) ## Questions families ask ### What is the difference between home care and home health care? Home health is skilled, doctor-ordered medical care, often covered by Medicare. Home care is non-medical help with daily life, usually private pay. ### Does Medicare pay for home health care? Yes, in full for covered services, when your parent is homebound and needs part-time skilled care under a doctor's plan. ### How long does home health care last? As long as your parent qualifies and the doctor keeps the plan current. Many episodes are short, during recovery. ### Can home health care come to assisted living? Yes, when the rules are met. ## Sources - [Medicare.gov: Home health services](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services) - [Medicare.gov Care Compare (nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice)](https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/) - [CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Median Cost Data Tables (survey July to November 2025; median cost data tables, published March 2026)](https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/282102.pdf) ## Related guides - [Care at home](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/) - [Does Medicare pay for home health?](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/paying-for-it/medicare-home-health/) - [In-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/) - [Home care vs. home health](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-care-vs-home-health/) - [Skilled nursing facilities](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/skilled-nursing/) - [PACE](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/pace-program/) - [Aging in place](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/aging-in-place/) - [Dementia home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/dementia-home-care/) - [Finding a caregiver](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/finding-a-caregiver/) --- Canonical page: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-health-care/