Family & Children’s Association provides free counseling and information on Medicare. Medicare is a federally run health insurance program for people 65 years of age or have collected Social Security Disability for 24 months.

It is also available for individuals with permanent kidney failure or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Medicare covers home-health services under Hospital Insurance (Part A) and/or Medical Insurance (Part B).  It also covers medically necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech language pathology services or continued occupational therapy services.

Home health services may also include medical social services, part time aid services (as long as the covered person receives skilled care), durable medical equipment and medical supplies for use at home.

Part-time or intermittent means the covered individual may be able to get skilled nursing care and home health services if they are provided fewer than eight hours each day or fewer than 28 hours each week.

A doctor must assess the covered person face-to-face before certifying the need for home health services.  A doctor or other health care provider must order the care and a Medicare certified agency must provide it.

Home health services are covered by Medicare for as long as there is a need for part time or intermittent skilled services, provided the covered person is homebound, which means they have trouble leaving their home without help such as using a cane, walker, wheelchair or crutches and need assistance from another person because of an illness or injury.

There may be no cost for covered home health services.  However, for Medicare covered durable medical equipment, the covered individual is responsible for 20% of the Medicare covered amount.  The Part B deductible applies.

For more free information about Medicare covered services, contact the Nassau County Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program at Family & Children’s Association at 516-485-3754.

Barry Klitsberg is an assistant health insurance information counseling and assistance coordinator, Family & Children’s Association.