What percentage of home care costs does Medicare pay?

• A. 50%
• B. 20%
• C. 37%
• D. 80%

Answer: (C)

Medicare pays only for skilled, medically necessary home health services when you meet the eligibility criteria (homebound status and a physician-approved plan of care). This means not all home care tasks are covered. Personal care and custodial assistance—things like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and housekeeping—are typically not covered unless they are part of a skilled service. Because the total cost of home care includes both the covered skilled services and the non-covered non-skilled tasks, the overall share paid by Medicare tends to be around 37% of the total bill. The exact percentage can vary based on eligibility, services provided, and any additional coverage, but the key idea is that Medicare does not cover the entire cost; only the medically necessary skilled portion is covered, with remaining costs paid by the patient or other insurance.