Medicare Home Health Care in Colorado: What's Covered
EliteCare is a Medicare-certified agency. We help you understand if you qualify, then send a nurse or therapist to your home when your doctor orders care.
- Medicare-certified and CHAP accredited
- Skilled nursing, PT, OT and speech therapy
- Care can begin within 48 hours of receiving the referral and physician orders
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- CHAP Accredited
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Medicare home health care pays for skilled nursing and therapy visits at home when leaving the house is hard for you. It is meant for a set period of recovery or for managing a health problem that changed. A doctor must order the care, and a Medicare-certified agency like EliteCare must provide it.
This page explains who qualifies, what Medicare covers, what it does not cover, and what to have ready when you call us. If you are not sure whether you qualify, our registered nurse can review your situation during a free in-home assessment.
Do you qualify for Medicare home health?
- You are homebound: leaving home takes a major effort, or you need a device or another person to leave safely.
- You need part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, or continued occupational therapy.
- A doctor or allowed practitioner orders the care and reviews your plan of care regularly.
- You had a face-to-face visit with your doctor within 90 days before, or 30 days after, the start of care.
- You are enrolled in Medicare Part A, Part B, or a Medicare Advantage plan.
- The agency providing care is Medicare-certified.
You can meet all of these and still leave home for medical visits, religious services or short, occasional trips like a haircut.
What Medicare home health covers
Covered
- Part-time skilled nursing visits by an RN or LPN
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy
- Home health aide visits for personal care, when you also receive skilled care
- Medical social services
- Medical supplies used during visits, such as wound dressings
Not covered
- 24-hour care at home
- Meals delivered to your home
- Homemaker services like cleaning or laundry when that is the only help you need
- Personal care like bathing when that is the only help you need
- Prescription drugs (often covered by Medicare Part D)
- Full-time skilled nursing
Medicare Advantage plans may require prior authorization or set other rules. We confirm your plan before the first visit.
How to start Medicare home health with EliteCare
- You
Step 1
Call us or fill out the form
Tell us what happened, what your doctor said, and the name of your doctor. We check your Medicare coverage.
- Your doctor
Step 2
Sends orders and confirms the visit
Your doctor sends a referral with orders and documents the face-to-face visit. We can call the office for you.
- EliteCare
Step 3
Starts care
Once we have the referral and physician orders, care can begin within 48 hours. A registered nurse comes to your home first.
- EliteCare and your doctor
Step 4
Review every 60 days
Your nurse tracks progress and updates your doctor. Near the end of each 60-day period, your doctor decides if more care is needed.
What to have ready when you call about Medicare home health
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card, or your Medicare Advantage plan card
- Your doctor's name and office phone number
- A list of current medications, including doses
- Recent hospital or rehab discharge papers, if you have them
- A short note on what is hard to do at home right now
Services Medicare home health can pay for
Home health care
Skilled nursing for wounds, injections, IV care, vital signs and teaching about new conditions.
Learn moreTherapy services
Physical, occupational and speech therapy at home, with an exercise plan you can follow between visits.
Learn morePost-Hospital care
Nursing and therapy in the first weeks after a hospital or rehab stay.
Learn morePersonal care
Aide help with bathing and dressing, covered only while you also receive skilled care.
Learn moreUnderstanding homebound status for Medicare
Homebound does not mean you can never leave the house. It means leaving takes a lot of effort. Many people qualify because they need a walker, a wheelchair, or another person's help to get out the door safely.
Your doctor decides if you are homebound. During our free in-home assessment, our registered nurse writes down what we see, such as trouble with stairs or shortness of breath. That information helps your doctor complete the paperwork.
The Medicare skilled care requirement
Medicare home health pays for care that needs a licensed professional. Examples include wound care, injections, teaching you how to manage a new diagnosis, and therapy to rebuild strength after a fall.
If you only need help with bathing or housework, Medicare home health does not apply. In that case, ask us about personal care or companion care and other ways to pay for it.
Physician orders and the face-to-face visit
Medicare requires a doctor or allowed practitioner to certify your need for home health. You must have a face-to-face visit with them within 90 days before care starts or within 30 days after. A telehealth visit can count.
We cannot start Medicare-covered visits without signed orders. If your doctor's office is slow to send them, we call the office and follow up so you do not have to.
How 60-day Medicare periods work
Medicare approves home health in 60-day periods. Your plan of care lists the visits and goals for each period. Your nurse and therapist record your progress at every visit.
Near the end of a period, your doctor reviews your progress. If you are still homebound and still need skilled care, your doctor can certify another 60 days. If you have met your goals, we help you plan what comes next.
Check your Medicare home health coverage
Medicare home health questions
What does Medicare home health cost me?
For eligible patients on Original Medicare, there is usually no copay or deductible for covered home health visits. Medical equipment such as a walker is billed separately and usually has a 20% coinsurance. Medicare Advantage plans set their own rules, so we check your plan before care starts.
How long can I receive Medicare home health care?
Care is approved in 60-day periods. Your doctor can certify another period if you are still homebound and still need skilled care. There is no set limit on the number of periods.
Do I need a hospital stay first?
No. A hospital stay is not required. Your doctor needs to certify that you are homebound and need skilled care, and you need a face-to-face visit within the required time frame.
Will Medicare pay for a caregiver every day?
No. Medicare home health covers part-time or intermittent visits. It does not pay for 24-hour care or for daily help with chores when that is the only help you need.
Can I choose EliteCare as my home health agency?
Yes. You can choose any Medicare-certified agency that serves your area. Tell your doctor or hospital discharge planner that you would like to use EliteCare.
I have a Medicare Advantage plan. Can I still get home health?
Most Medicare Advantage plans include home health benefits, but they may require prior authorization or in-network agencies. Call us and we will check your plan with you.
Related to Medicare home health
Last updated: October 2026