Home health vs. home care: what's the difference?
Medical home health (Medicare-covered) versus non-medical home care (usually private-pay), and how families combine them.
The names are nearly identical, but they are different services with different payers.
Home health (medical)
- Skilled nursing and therapy ordered by a doctor, for a limited period.
- Provided by Medicare-certified agencies — the ones listed on this site.
- Usually covered at $0 by Medicare for people who qualify (eligibility).
- Visits are short and intermittent — a nurse or therapist comes for an hour, a few times a week.
Home care (non-medical)
- Help with daily living: bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, companionship, supervision.
- Provided by private-duty or personal-care agencies, often by the hour or overnight.
- Usually paid out of pocket or by long-term care insurance; some state Medicaid programs cover personal care for people who qualify.
- Original Medicare doesn't pay for it when it's the only care you need.
Using both
After a hospital stay, many families combine the two: Medicare-covered home health for the skilled visits, plus a few hours a day of private home care for bathing, meals and safety. Tell each agency about the other so schedules don't overlap and the home health aide and private caregiver aren't duplicating tasks.
Which do you need?
- A wound, new medications, an IV, or rehab after surgery → home health.
- Help staying safe, fed and clean day to day → home care.
- Both after a hospital discharge → start home health first; it's covered and the nurse can advise what extra help is needed.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Home health services; Eldercare Locator (for local home care and aging services).