Posted on December 13, 2021 by Kyle Walton
Posted on December 13, 2021 by Kyle Walton
Home healthcare is a term used to describe a wide variety of healthcare services and treatments that may be administered in the comfort of your own home.
Usually, these treatments and services are given in order to help you recover from illness or injury. When compared to healthcare services received in a hospital setting or doctor’s office, home healthcare is usually less expensive, more convenient, and every bit as effective.
Some examples of home healthcare treatments and services include:
Doctor’s orders are required to begin home healthcare. Once your doctor refers you for home health services, a home health agency will schedule an appointment to visit your home and talk to you about your health and wellness needs.
As we age, we become more prone to certain illnesses and our bodies naturally become less physically durable and more prone to injury or disability. As a result, we may eventually have a need for regularly-scheduled skilled nursing care, as well as other skilled care services such as physical and occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and medical social services.
Recently, the need for home healthcare has increased for a variety of reasons. For one, medical science and technology has grown exponentially since the start of the 21st century, with increased rapid growth even in the past 10 years or so.
This means that many treatments that may once have only been possible in a hospital setting can now be performed at home. In addition, home healthcare has recently become more and more affordable and more convenient for millions of people nationwide, especially seniors.
The goal of short-term home healthcare has typically been to provide effective treatment for injury or illness recovery in a familiar and comfortable environment. Not only can home healthcare help you get better, but it can also help you more quickly regain your independence and become self-sufficient more quickly.
The goal of long-term home healthcare (for chronically ill or disabled individuals) is to help patients maintain a high-level of health while learning to live with your condition in the most positive way possible.
Whether you require short-term or long-term home healthcare services, home healthcare staff will typically assist you with the following needs:
Home healthcare staff will also stay in regular communication with your doctor regarding your care, helping to keep them updated on your condition and progress. It is incredibly important that your home healthcare staff see you as often as your doctor orders.
You may be pleased to learn that if you currently a Medicare recipient, you can get coverage for certain home healthcare benefits, provided you meet all of the following criteria:
Provided you meet all of the aforementioned criteria for receiving home healthcare, Medicare will cover the following:
Under current Medicare-approved home healthcare standards, Original Medicare will not cover:
While Original Medicare is often limited in terms of what services and treatments are and are not covered, it may still be possible to extend your personal Medicare plan to include additional coverage for these services, as well as additional healthcare needs such as vision, hearing, and dental care.
This coverage can be provided under Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies, which means that their availability, exact pricing, and exact benefits may vary. Nevertheless, all Medicare Advantage plans are required by law to at least provide the same coverage as Traditional Medicare plans.
If you are interested in the possibility of getting covered for more comprehensive home healthcare needs under Medicare Advantage, the licensed insurance agents at MedicareInsurance.com can help you research and explore options in your area.
Kyle Walton
Kyle is a professional writer with several years of experience helping to inform the public on many diverse topics and industries, including healthcare. He is a Kutztown University graduate, Class of 2017.