Does Medicare Cover Home Companions?
Medicare Part A covers home health care services,and not home companions,as prescribed by a doctor on a limited basis. Home health care includes skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language services, medical social services and home health aide services.
Medicare will cover:
- "intermittent” skilled nursing care, or part-time care.
Medicare will not cover:
- If a patient needs more than part-time care, (care that’s given fewer than 7 days each week or less than 8 hours each day over a period of 21 days (or less) with some exceptions), he/she is ineligible for home health care benefits.
- Home health aide services unless you’re also getting skilled care such as nursing care or other physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services from the home health agency.
- 24-hour care at home.
- Homemaker services like shopping, cleaning, and laundry when this is the only care you need.
What do patients do after Medicare coverage (21 days) runs out?
Patients who still need assistance after 21 days turn to community resources.
Financial Options With Hiring Home Companions:
- Long Term Care insurance (companies such as, Genworth, John Hancock and Metlife).
- Worker's Compensation
- Private Pay
- Veteran's Administration Aide and Attendance Program
FAQs
Home Care Services
Services are provided from 6 hours a week to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We serve Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan.
Choose a schedule that works for you:
Call us at 631-439-6829 for current rates.
Hourly Weekday/Weekend Care
A professional caregiver will visit the home from 3 hours a day to a full 8-hour day. The minimum is 6 hours per week. You decide on the days and times and we appoint a caregiver that is available for your preferred schedule. All services provided are in accordance with your customized care plan. Schedule a free in-home consultation!
Overnight Care
A professional caregiver will stay for a 12-hour shift beginning in the evening and ending in the morning. Services include dinner preparation, help getting ready for bed, overnight assistance and supervision, help getting up and ready in the morning, and breakfast preparation. All services provided are in accordance with your customized care plan. Overnight care is ideal for the person who gets up during the night and is at risk for falls, becomes disoriented at night, and/or has dementia and requires supervision. Schedule a free in-home consultation!
Live-in Weekday/Weekend Care
A professional caregiver stays in the home 24-hours a day. In a 7-day live-in situation, 2 professional caregivers share the week. Live-in care includes around-the-clock assistance with activities of daily living such as meal preparation, household chores, bathing and dressing supervision, medication reminders, and oversight of the person's well being. Live-in caregivers share in the household food and typically have their own separate sleeping quarters. Live-in care is ideal for the person who is at risk for falls in the home, who has moderate dementia, and/or is recovering from a hospitalization. Schedule a free in-home consultation!
