Care and coverage facts

By Ruth Calloway · Last checked Nov 9, 2026

It helps to know what's covered before you arrange care. These facts come straight from Medicare and CMS pages we read on Nov 9, 2026. Rules can change. The official page is always the one to follow.

Home health care and personal care are not the same

What Medicare home health covers

Medicare covers some home health care for people who meet its rules. This can include part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, and therapy such as physical therapy. You must need that skilled care, and you must be homebound, as Medicare defines that word. Read the full rules on Medicare.gov: Home health services.

Everyday help on its own

Help with bathing and dressing is called personal or custodial care. On the same page, Medicare lists among the things it doesn't pay for: "Custodial or personal care that helps you with daily living activities (like bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom), when this is the only care you need." (Medicare.gov: Home health services)

Cleaning and errands

That page also lists "Homemaker services (like shopping and cleaning) unrelated to your care plan" as something Medicare doesn't pay for. (Medicare.gov: Home health services)

Long-term care

Medicare says most long-term care is non-medical, and Medicare doesn't pay for it. Medicaid may help people who meet their state's rules. See Medicare.gov: Long-term care.

Equipment for the home

CMS keeps a national list of home equipment and whether Medicare pays for each item. It is called National Coverage Determination (NCD) 280.1. Read it on the CMS Medicare Coverage Database: NCD 280.1.

Medical alert systems

Original Medicare doesn't pay for telephone alert systems. Under Telephone Alert Systems, NCD 280.1 says: "Deny - these are emergency communications systems and do not serve a diagnostic or therapeutic purpose." (CMS: NCD 280.1)

Stair lifts

Original Medicare doesn't pay for stairway elevators, the kind of lift that carries a person up the stairs. NCD 280.1 marks Stairway Elevators as denied and points to its entry for Elevators, which reads: "Deny - convenience item; not primarily medical in nature." (CMS: NCD 280.1)

Grab bars and bath lifts

The same CMS list also denies grab bars and bathtub lifts. (CMS: NCD 280.1)

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan

Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn't. Medicare's own page says these plans "may cover some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like certain vision, hearing, and dental services." (Medicare.gov: What's not covered?) Since 2019, CMS has also allowed plans to offer home and bathroom safety items, such as grab bars and stair rails, as an extra (CMS memo of April 27, 2018, on HHS.gov). Plans differ. If you have one, ask the plan whether it covers an alert system, a stair lift or safety items.

Finding local help

The Eldercare Locator, run by the federal Administration for Community Living, connects families with local services. Search the Eldercare Locator.

Test yourself: true or false?

There is no score and nothing to win. We give every answer as a word, True or False, plus a reason.

1. Original Medicare pays for a medical alert necklace.
   False. CMS lists telephone alert systems as denied. (CMS: NCD 280.1)

1. If bathing and dressing help is the only care someone needs, Medicare home health won't pay for it.
   True. Medicare lists this kind of care, when it's the only care needed, as not covered. (Medicare.gov: Home health services)

1. Original Medicare pays for a stair lift if stairs are hard to climb.
   False. CMS lists stairway elevators as denied. (CMS: NCD 280.1)

1. Every Medicare Advantage plan covers grab bars.
   False. CMS allows plans to offer safety items as an extra, but they don't have to. Ask the plan. (CMS memo of April 27, 2018, on HHS.gov)

This is general information, not medical or coverage advice.