Inpatient Hospital Care: This is care received after you are formally admitted into a hospital by a physician. Part A covers a semi-private room, meals, general nursing services, rehabilitation services, drugs and medical supplies, lab and imaging tests and operating room. However, it does not cover private-duty nursing, a private room (unless medically necessary), television, or a phone in your room (if there’s a separate charge for these items), or personal care items such as razors or slipper socks.
Skilled Nursing Facility: Skilled nursing care is provided by trained registered nurses in a medical setting under a doctor’s supervision. It’s the same level of nursing care you get in the hospital. If you have been in the hospital for at least three days you can go from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility to continue recovering after an illness, injury or surgery. In addition to skilled nursing care, you can also receive rehabilitative services from licensed physical, occupational or speech therapists. A skilled nursing facility provides transitional care. The goal is to get well enough to go home, so Medicare will limit your stay to no more than a hundred days.
Hospice Care: Your regular doctor certifies that you’re terminally ill with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. You accept comfort care (palliative care) instead of care to cure your illness. You need to sign a statement that you want hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for your terminal illness and related conditions. You can get Medicare-certified hospice care in your home or another facility where you live, like a nursing home.
Home Health Care: This includes a wide range of health and social services delivered in your home to treat an illness or injury. Services covered by Medicare’s home health benefit include intermittent skilled nursing care, therapy, and care provided by a home health aide. Depending on the circumstances, home health care will be covered by either Part A or Part B.
It is vital to understand that home health care does not encompass ongoing assistance with daily living activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, cooking, shopping, and cleaning. If you find yourself needing help with these essential tasks, you may want to consider hiring a caregiver or seeking assistance from family members. A comprehensive understanding of home health care under Medicare can significantly impact your healthcare decisions and ensure you receive the necessary support once you return home. By being informed, you can make better choices regarding your care and overall well-being.
