What Medicare pays for at home, what it doesn’t, and how families pay for the rest.
Medicare pays for short-term skilled care at home. It doesn’t pay for everyday help on its own.
Medicare doesn’t pay for bathing, dressing, meals or housekeeping when that’s the only help you need. That’s where the options below come in.
How most families cover everyday help.
Some plans include in-home help hours. Look in your Evidence of Coverage or call the number on your card.
Plan papersLong-term care insurance, a life insurance care rider, or VA benefits may pay. See the guides below.
Other coverageHome care can count as a medical expense, and work-related care costs may qualify for a credit.
Tax timeWith us, paying on your own is month to month. Add hours as needs grow.
Month to monthThe questions families ask most.
In 2026, about 7% of Medicare Advantage plans, and 25% of special needs plans, list in-home support. Hours are limited and some plans use their own vendor.
Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Free Medicare counseling (SHIP): (800) 548-9034.
GUIDE programs pay for respite, up to $2,625 a year in 2026, for people living with dementia who have an unpaid family caregiver. The money goes to the program, not the family.
Chicago-area programs include UChicago Medicine, Rush and the Advocate Memory Center. Ask the doctor or memory clinic.
If a doctor, nurse or licensed social worker certifies that someone needs help with 2 daily tasks or has serious memory loss, and care follows a plan, home care can count as a medical expense. Medical costs above 7.5% of income are deductible.
Pay to a relative usually doesn’t count unless they’re licensed. If you work, a dependent care account or credit may help. Ask a tax professional.
Money in a health savings account can pay for qualified long-term care services, as well as long-term care insurance premiums up to a limit.
Some homeowners 62 and older use a reverse mortgage. You must meet with a HUD-approved counselor first. Talk with someone you trust before you sign anything.
Paying on your own is simple with us. No long contracts.
General information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules change, and each program decides for itself. Last reviewed October 12, 2026.
Tell us what you need. We’ll suggest the hours.