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Many seniors rely on caregivers to help care for them through injuries or illnesses. However, this personal care can be quite expensive.
So a common question many people have is, “does Medicare cover caregivers?” In this article, we answer that question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of caregiver care and other helpful info.
The short answer is yes; Medicare will cover the cost of caregiver care. But not 100% of the time. As is often the case with Medicare, certain conditions have to be met in order for Medicare to pay for your caregiver care. Below we look at what these are so you know what to expect.
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) provides coverage for caregiver care. However, Medicare does not provide coverage for all types of caregiver care. When it comes to home health care, both Medicare Part A and Part B provide coverage for the services and care.
But for Medicare Part A and Part B provide coverage for your home health care, you must meet at least one of these conditions:
Some of the services that you may receive from an in-home caregiver care include:
However, Medicare will not cover all types of caregiver care. Medicare does not provide coverage for custodial care unless you need it for a short time while you are recovering from an illness or injury. Custodial care includes care that is not medically necessary such as dressing and going to the bathroom.
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) also provide coverage for caregiver care. They cover everything Original Medicare covers, as well as offer some additional benefits. However, exactly what it covers and what your out-of-pocket costs will be varies on the specifics of your plan.
If you need prescription medications during your home healthcare period, Medicare Part D will provide coverage.
Caregiver care can cost $20 or more per hour. On average, a caregiver costs $4,000 per month. These costs will vary from state to state.
Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.
This article is part of our series on “What does Medicare cover?”
Also, you can check out other articles in this series including: Does Medicare cover pneumonia vaccines?