Medicare Health Benefit

The Medicare Health Benefit covers the following individuals:

 • Age 65 or older

 • Younger than 65 with a disability 

• With end-stage renal disease (any age)

The Medicare home health benefit pays for homecare services under Part A and B. Beneficiaries do not have to have both Part A and B to receive homecare services.

Medicare Advantage plans 

Medicare also contracts with a private company to offer patients their Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include HMOs, PPOs, private fee-for-service plans, special needs plans, and Medicare medical savings account plans. Services are paid for by the private company and not under Original Medicare.

Medicare Part A 

Medicare Part A helps cover hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home health care. Beneficiaries must meet certain required conditions to qualify for these benefits. Individuals and their spouses who paid the Medicare tax while working do not pay a monthly premium for the Medicare Part A benefit. Most people meet the requirement for a premium-free Part A; however, if they don’t meet the requirements for a premium-free Part A, it is available for a monthly fee. 

Medicare Part A covers eligible home health services such as intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, continued occupational services, social services, home health aide services, and medical supplies used in the home. 

Medicare doesn’t pay for the following:

 • 24-hour-a-day care at home

 • Meals delivered to the home

 • Homemaker services 

 • Personal car

Medicare Part B

 Most people pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B helps cover doctors’ services, outpatient care, outpatient therapy services, and limited home health care. Medicare Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are deemed to be medically necessary.