Home health care services can provide older adults with the support they need to fight an ongoing illness or chronic conditions. If you haven’t heard of them, Visiting Angels is a privately-owned network of home health care agencies that provide services across the entire U.S.
These “angels” come to your home and care for you when you are sick or injured. There are a wide variety of services offered through this organization, including respite care, personal care, companionship, and more. What services are offered will vary depending on the specific needs of each patient.
At Innovative Senior Benefits, we understand how important it is that you understand your Medicare coverage. That’s why we are here to help. If you are interested in having a visiting angel come to your home, here’s what you need to know about Medicare and Visiting Angels.
What is Visiting Angels?
Visiting Angels is a franchise, meaning each agency is owned and operated independently by franchisees. There are hundreds of similar companies, Visiting Angels is just a brand name. Companies like this come to your home and provide a range of helpful health-related services.
For example, if you have dementia or Alzheimer’s, Visiting Angels could provide you with social care. End-of-life care is another common service offered by this organization, as well as fall prevention. If you need help with daily activities, Visiting Angels can step in there too. Their teams are trained to perform basic chores, like light housekeeping, meal preparation, and handling errands.
Does Medicare Cover Visiting Angels?
Medicare will help cover the cost of medically necessary home health services. The organization you select must be approved by Medicare before you can seek treatment from them. Before engaging with a home health care agency, always make sure to verify that Medicare covers the services you need. While Visiting Angels may be approved by Medicare, all of their services are not. Not doing so can severely impact your overall costs in the case Medicare does not cover a service you’ve received.
What Will Medicare Pay For?
Eligible Medicare recipients can have 100% of the approved amount of costs covered if they receive home health care from a Medicare-approved agency. Part A covers the home health care portion, while Part B covers the medical supplies and durable medical equipment. Be aware that people who have Original Medicare benefits may have to pay 20% of the cost of durable medical equipment.
If you are concerned about which services are not included in Medicare coverage, here are some examples:
Meal delivery
Homemaking services
Personal care, such as using the bathroom
24-hour home care
Who is Eligible for Medicare-approved Home Health Services?
If you have been deemed homebound by a physician that is creating a care plan for your condition, you qualify to receive home health care through Medicare. Though, this is only if you’ve already applied and been approved for Medicare benefits. If you do not have Medicare yet, please make sure that you’ve met the eligibility requirements, then apply.
Give Our Experts a Call Today
At Innovative Senior Benefits, we can help put you in touch with a home health care agency that accepts your benefits. Whether you choose Visiting Angels or another agency, we’ll be there for you! We can also help you enroll in Medicare. Just give us a call to get started.
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