“Home-bound” has a different meaning to different people. The patient can still socialize (which is recommend highly) but there are rules regarding how the patient gets to the events outside of the home! If the patient has private insurance other than Medicare, those rules may not necessarily apply.
If you are covered by Medicare Part A
To receive home health aide services with 100% coverage, the patient must be homebound, have orders from a physician, and need treatment requiring a skill such as nursing or specialized therapies.
If you are covered by Medicare Part B
Medicare will pay 80% with a 20% co-pay and an order from the physician, a need for a specialized therapy (physical, occupational, speech), and the ability to have therapies performed in the home. Note that under this plan, nursing or home health aide is not covered.
Navigating the nuances of coverage and care can be complicated at a time when you are feeling anxious and concerned. Please call us. We do our best to make the information straightforward and applicable to the patient and family. We will be happy to talk with you about eligibility and many other important issues surrounding good care.