What is "homebound?"
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Medicare (and many private insurance companies) will help cover home health costs for beneficiaries who meet four conditions (Note: this applies to the Medicare home health benefit, not the Medicare hospice benefit):
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You must be homebound. This means that:
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Leaving home is a major effort.
You are normally unable to leave home unassisted.
When you leave home, it must be to get medical care, or for short, infrequent non-medical reasons such as a trip to get a haircut, or to attend religious services or adult day care.
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Your doctor must decide that you need medical care at home, and make a plan for your care.
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You must need at least one of the following: intermittent skilled nursing care, or physical therapy or speech-language therapy or continue to need occupational therapy.
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The home health agency caring for you must be approved by the Medicare program.
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