In-Home Health Care:

There are several options for senior healthcare at home. Most home caregivers are members of the senior’s family who are providing care for the senior. This care is oftentimes provided at the financial cost of wages that are lost. It is only under some circumstances that Medicare will cover senior healthcare at home. The senior healthcare at home must be for a medical need and a doctor must order the senior healthcare at home. Toileting and bathing seniors is excluded from coverage except in some circumstance because Medicare considers such personal care nonmedical. In many states there are also programs available that provide services for senior healthcare at home including personal care.

The cost of senior healthcare at home is completely covered if home care is provided by Medicare. Usually, aide and senior healthcare at home under states services is covered at 100 percent. Equipment is covered at 80 percent and is paid for under Part B. Usually these programs have some qualifications for income. Frequently only seniors who have a low income will qualify for senior healthcare at home. Long term insurance for senior healthcare at home is another option. Most policies will cover some of the senior healthcare at home for personal care. The benefits should be carefully checked. There are some insurance companies that will provide senior healthcare at home under the senior’s retirement benefits. To determine if this benefit is available the senior’s former employer should be contacted. The only other option is to pay for the senior healthcare at home from the senior’s savings.

For information on the programs that are available in your state, check with your state Agency on Aging.