Does job-based or Marketplace insurance cover home health care?

Covered when skilled care is medically necessary, usually with visit limits. Plans cover part-time skilled nursing and therapy at home, often after a hospital stay. Custodial help (bathing, dressing) is generally not covered. Cost: Home health copay or coinsurance; visit limits are common.

Does Original Medicare cover home health care?

Yes, $0 for covered home health if you’re homebound. Medicare covers intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound people under a doctor’s care plan; DME used at home is 20%. Cost: $0 for covered home health services.

Does Medicare Advantage cover home health care?

Yes, Medicare Advantage plans must cover home health care, but your plan sets the copay. Medicare covers intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound people under a doctor’s care plan; DME used at home is 20%. Medicare Advantage plans must cover this too, but set their own copays and often require in-network providers and prior authorization. Cost: Your plan’s copay or coinsurance: check the Evidence of Coverage.

Does Medicaid cover home health care?

Yes, home health is a mandatory Medicaid benefit. Many states also cover personal care and home- and community-based services.

Is home health care covered by insurance?

Skilled nursing and therapy visits at home. Here’s how each kind of plan usually handles it.

Ask a specific question Plan a visit: cost and doctors Check it against my plan

Employer or MarketplaceCovered with conditions
Covered when skilled care is medically necessary, usually with visit limits.
More details
Plans cover part-time skilled nursing and therapy at home, often after a hospital stay. Custodial help (bathing, dressing) is generally not covered.
Cost: Home health copay or coinsurance; visit limits are common.
Original MedicareUsually covered
Yes, $0 for covered home health if you’re homebound.
More details
Medicare covers intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound people under a doctor’s care plan; used at home is 20%.
Cost: $0 for covered home health services.
Medicare AdvantageUsually covered
Yes, Medicare Advantage plans must cover home health care, but your plan sets the copay.
More details
Medicare covers intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound people under a doctor’s care plan; used at home is 20%. plans must cover this too, but set their own copays and often require in-network providers and prior authorization.
Cost: Your plan’s copay or coinsurance: check the Evidence of Coverage.
MedicaidUsually covered
Yes, home health is a mandatory Medicaid benefit.
More details
Many states also cover personal care and home- and community-based services.

Plan type	How it’s usually covered
Employer or MarketplaceCovered with conditions	Covered when skilled care is medically necessary, usually with visit limits. Plans cover part-time skilled nursing and therapy at home, often after a hospital stay. Custodial help (bathing, dressing) is generally not covered. Cost: Home health copay or coinsurance; visit limits are common.
Original MedicareUsually covered	Yes, $0 for covered home health if you’re homebound. Medicare covers intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound people under a doctor’s care plan; used at home is 20%. Cost: $0 for covered home health services.
Medicare AdvantageUsually covered	Yes, Medicare Advantage plans must cover home health care, but your plan sets the copay. Medicare covers intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound people under a doctor’s care plan; used at home is 20%. plans must cover this too, but set their own copays and often require in-network providers and prior authorization. Cost: Your plan’s copay or coinsurance: check the Evidence of Coverage.
MedicaidUsually covered	Yes, home health is a mandatory Medicaid benefit. Many states also cover personal care and home- and community-based services.

What usually has to be true

Care must be skilled, part-time, and ordered by a clinician.
Use a certified home health agency.

Good to know

Medicare does not require a prior hospital stay for home health.

Skilled nursing facility · Short-term rehab in a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay.
Nursing home & long-term care · Long-term custodial care in a facility or at home.
Hospice care · Comfort-focused care for terminal illness.

Sources

Typical rules for 2026 plans, checked against these sources on October 20, 2026. Your plan’s own documents decide.

1
What Marketplace plans cover
HealthCare.gov
Marketplace plans cover outpatient care, hospitalization, mental health care, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, laboratory services, preventive services, and other essential benefit categories.
2
Home health services
Medicare.gov
Part A and/or Part B cover part-time or intermittent skilled nursing and therapy at home for people who are homebound and under a care plan, with $0 for covered home health services.
3
Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Medicare.gov
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare covers (except hospice, which Original Medicare continues to pay), usually use provider networks, often require referrals or prior authorization, and may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing.
4
Mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits
Medicaid.gov
States must cover mandatory benefits such as inpatient and outpatient hospital care, physician services, laboratory and X-ray services, home health, and nursing facility care; many other benefits, including adult dental, vision, and prescription drugs coverage details, are state options.

General information about how coverage usually works, not a decision about your plan. Your plan documents and insurer have the final word.

Is home health care covered by insurance?

What usually has to be true

Good to know

Related

Sources