Does Medicare Cover Skilled Nursing Care Provided at Home?
Yes, Medicare covers skilled nursing care at home for eligible seniors when specific criteria are met. Medicare’s home health benefit (Part A and/or Part B) pays for intermittent skilled nursing services that are medically necessary and prescribed by a doctor. Here’s how coverage works, what’s included, and what families need to know about accessing skilled care at home.
Medicare Coverage Criteria
- The senior must be under the care of a physician and need part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care (not full-time, long-term custodial care).
- A doctor must certify the need for skilled nursing care, and the services must be provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency.
- The patient must be “homebound”—meaning leaving home is a major effort due to illness or injury.
What Services Are Covered?
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Medication administration (including IVs and injections)
- Health assessments, vital sign monitoring, and chronic disease management
- Patient and family education
- Coordination of care with physicians and other providers
What’s Not Covered?
- 24/7 care or ongoing help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, meal prep) if not paired with skilled services
- Custodial or long-term care not deemed medically necessary
How Long Will Medicare Pay?
- As long as skilled care is medically necessary, the patient remains homebound, and recertification is completed every 60 days.
How to Get Started
- Ask your doctor to evaluate your loved one and write a home health order for skilled nursing care.
- Contact a Medicare-certified agency for assessment and care plan development.
For further guidance, see our Home Health Care resource page or speak with a local agency about Medicare coverage for skilled services.
