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Every service is ordered by a physician and delivered by licensed professionals—like registered nurses and physical therapists—ensuring the highest standard of medical safety.
Each agency works with your doctor to create a personalized Plan of Care, with clear goals designed to help you regain strength, manage your condition, and live more independently.
When deemed medically necessary by a doctor, skilled home health services are typically covered by Medicare Part A or Part B, providing crucial support with little to no out-of-pocket cost.
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*For patients who meet Medicare's eligibility criteria (e.g., being homebound and requiring skilled care under a doctor's order), Medicare Part A and/or Part B may cover 100% of the cost for services from a Medicare-certified agency. Costs shown are illustrative estimates and can vary. Always confirm coverage with the agency and your insurance provider.
This is the most important distinction.
Home Health Care is skilled medical care prescribed by a doctor to treat an illness or injury. It is delivered by licensed medical professionals like nurses and therapists. The primary goal is recovery and rehabilitation.
Non-Medical In-Home Care (also known as companion care or personal care) focuses on helping with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This includes tasks like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and providing companionship. These services are typically paid for privately and do not require a doctor’s order.
Think of it this way: Home Health helps you get better, while non-medical In-Home Care helps you live better day-to-day.
While both can provide care at home, their goals are fundamentally different.
The goal of Home Health Care is recovery. It is provided to help a patient heal from an illness or injury with the expectation that they will improve, stabilize, or regain independence.
The goal of Hospice Care is comfort. It is for individuals with a terminal illness who are no longer seeking curative treatment. The focus shifts entirely to managing pain, providing emotional and spiritual support, and ensuring the highest possible quality of life in their final months.
This is a more subtle but important distinction.
Palliative Care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, whatever the diagnosis. The key difference is that you can receive palliative care at any age and at any stage of an illness, even alongside curative treatment.
Home Health Care is a specific type of skilled service delivered at home for a limited time with the goal of recovery. Palliative care is a broader approach to care that can be provided in any setting, including alongside home health services.
To qualify for home health care coverage under Medicare, a patient must meet several key criteria:
They must be under the care of a doctor, and the services must be part of a plan of care that is regularly reviewed by the doctor.
The doctor must certify that the patient needs one or more skilled services (like skilled nursing, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology).
The patient must be certified as “homebound” by their doctor. This doesn’t mean they can never leave the house, but that leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort.
Choosing the right agency is a critical decision. Here are the key factors to consider:
Check Their Quality Scores: Use the official Medicare quality ratings on our site to compare agencies on key metrics like patient improvement, timely care, and avoiding hospital readmission.
Verify Services Offered: Ensure the agency provides the specific skilled services your doctor has ordered (e.g., Physical Therapy, Wound Care).
Read Reviews: See what other families have said about their experiences with the agency’s communication, professionalism, and caregivers.
Interview Them: Don’t hesitate to call your top choices and ask them the important questions we’ve listed on this page.
Our directory is designed to give you all of this information in one place to help you make a confident and informed choice.
