Q: How do I arrange for services?
A: Call Advantage Home Health Care at (815) 467-1905 and speak with one of our nurses who can explain our services and determine if you qualify. She can then arrange a free home assessment and contact your physician to coordinate further care.
Q: What types of home care services are available under Medicare?
A: If ordered by your physician, the following services may be covered under Medicare:
Nursing
Health Aide
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Medical Social Services
Q: What are the Medicare home health care requirements?
A: Before Medicare will pay, you must meet four requirements:
1. Your doctor must order and write a plan for the care you will get at home.
2. The care your need must be skilled nursing care or therapy.
3. You must be homebound.
4. The home health agency serving you must be Medicare approved – like Advantage Home Health Care, Inc.
Q: How do I know if you accept my insurance plan?
A: Advantage Home Health Care currently has contracts with most major insurance carriers. Call 815-467-1905 and speak to one of our nurses who will be able to take your information and contact your insurance company to verify benefits.
Q: What if I do not qualify for Medicare but I still want a nurse or home health aide to visit?
A: Advantage Home Health Care can arrange private duty nursing and/or home health aide services. Some of those services include: lab draws, med-box fills, bathing services, and home monitoring.
Q: What is the plan of care my doctor must write?
A: A plan of care tells what type of services and treatment you will receive in your home. Your doctor will work with a home health care nurse to decide what types of services you need how often you need them.
Q: What does 'skilled care' mean?
A: Under Medicare guidelines, skilled care is care that can only be given by a licensed medical person. Skilled care might be given in your home by:
Nurses
Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Speech Language Pathologists
Q: How do I find someone to provide home health care covered by Medicare?
A: You may find a Medicare approved Home Health Agency by asking your doctor or hospital discharge planner. You might also ask your local Aging Agency for help or look in the phone book Yellow Pages under 'home health care.' If you belong to a Medicare managed care plan, you must use the home health agency that is part of the plan.
Q: Are there items or services that are not covered by Medicare home health?
A: Some of the things that Medicare will not help pay for are:
24-hour care at home
Meals delivered to the home
Personal care by home health aides, such as bathing or dressing, when this is the only care you need
Help with shopping, cleaning, and laundry
Q: What does 'homebound' mean?
A: Under Medicare guidelines, you do not have to be bedridden to be homebound. Leaving your home should require extra effort. You may still be homebound if you are gone from home only for short periods of time or for medical care.
Q: How long can I receive Medicare Home Health?
A: As long as there is a medical need. Medicare pays for home health services. There are limits on the number of hours and days of care you can receive in any week. Home health care is there to help you after illness or injury until you can care for yourself.
Q: Can I live with a family member and receive Medicare home health care?
A: Yes. Medicare guidelines state your home can be a house or apartment, the home of a family member, or even a home for the aged. A hospital or other facility that mainly provides skilled nursing services does not qualify as a home. If you are receiving skilled care in a facility, instead of your home, other parts of Medicare can help pay.
Contact Advantage Home Health Care, Inc. today at 815-467-1905, or browse our website for more information about specialty programs or home nursing services.
