Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is home health care?
Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF).
Examples of skilled home health services include:
2. What should I expect from my home health care provider?
3. How do I get home health care services?
Your physician, social worker, hospital or nursing home discharge planner or family member can help you get referred for home health services. It is your right to choose which home health provider you are most comfortable with.
4. Am I eligible for home health care?
If you have Medicare, you can use your home health benefit if you meet the following conditions:
5. How do I pay for home health care services?
Home health services are covered by Medicare and Medicaid and by most health insurances. If we received an order from your physician to provide home health services that are not covered by your current health insurance, we will notify you or your authorized representative in advance prior to Start of Care or no later than 30 days. We make every possible effort to make healthcare costs affordable to you. It is always advised to choose providers in-network with your insurance to avoid out-of-pocket costs or co-pays.
Central Healthcare is Medicare-certified, and we are also in-network with some health plans provided by Aetna/ Aetna Better Health, Meridian, Molina Healthcare, WellCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
Always remember that it is your doctor who will determine the need and order for home health services specific to your condition.
For more information, contact us. We can help!
Updated 1/3/2023
Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF).
Examples of skilled home health services include:
- Wound care for pressure sores or a surgical wound,
- Patient and caregiver education,
- Intravenous or nutrition therapy
- Injections
- Monitoring serious illness and unstable health status.
2. What should I expect from my home health care provider?
- Doctor’s orders are needed to start care. Once your doctor refers you for home health services, the home health provider will schedule an appointment and come to your home to talk to you about your needs and ask you some questions about your health.
- The home health agency staff will also talk to your doctor about your care and keep your doctor updated about your progress.
- It’s important that home health staff see you as often as the doctor ordered.
- Check what you’re eating and drinking.
- Check your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
- Check that you’re taking your prescription and other drugs and any treatments correctly.
- Ask if you’re having pain.
- Check your safety in the home.
- Teach you about your care so you can take care of yourself.
- Coordinate your care. This means they must communicate regularly with you, your doctor, and anyone else who gives you care. (Source: Medicare.gov)
3. How do I get home health care services?
Your physician, social worker, hospital or nursing home discharge planner or family member can help you get referred for home health services. It is your right to choose which home health provider you are most comfortable with.
4. Am I eligible for home health care?
If you have Medicare, you can use your home health benefit if you meet the following conditions:
- You must be under the care of a doctor.
- You must need, and a doctor must certify that you need, one or more of the following on an
intermittent basis: skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and occupational therapy.
- You must be homebound, and a doctor must certify that you are homebound. To be homebound means the following: (a) Your condition keeps you from leaving home without help (such as using a wheelchair or walker, needing special transportation, or getting help from another person); and (b) Leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort. (Source: Medicare.gov)
5. How do I pay for home health care services?
Home health services are covered by Medicare and Medicaid and by most health insurances. If we received an order from your physician to provide home health services that are not covered by your current health insurance, we will notify you or your authorized representative in advance prior to Start of Care or no later than 30 days. We make every possible effort to make healthcare costs affordable to you. It is always advised to choose providers in-network with your insurance to avoid out-of-pocket costs or co-pays.
Central Healthcare is Medicare-certified, and we are also in-network with some health plans provided by Aetna/ Aetna Better Health, Meridian, Molina Healthcare, WellCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
Always remember that it is your doctor who will determine the need and order for home health services specific to your condition.
For more information, contact us. We can help!
Updated 1/3/2023