How to choose a home health agency
What the Medicare star ratings and patient survey on our home health pages mean, what to ask, who pays, and how to complain about a home health agency.
Who this guide is for
For people who need skilled care at home ordered by a doctor, often after a hospital or nursing home stay: nursing, physical, occupational or speech therapy, and aide visits. Home health is not the same as home care that only helps with chores or personal care; agencies that offer only that are not on our lists.
What the official data on our pages means
- Quality of patient care
- 1 to 5 stars from measures such as how often patients got better at walking, getting in and out of bed, bathing and breathing, and how often they had to go to the hospital.
- Patient survey rating
- 1 to 5 stars from the Home Health CAHPS survey: what patients said about the care, the communication and the agency overall.
- Results of care
- Each percentage is shown with whether higher or lower is better. Hospital admissions and ER visits: lower is better.
- Services offered and office address
- The services the agency reports to Medicare. Care is given in your home; ask whether the agency serves your ZIP code.
Questions to ask when you call or visit
- Is the agency certified by Medicare, and does it serve your ZIP code?
- Does it offer the services your doctor ordered (nursing, physical, occupational or speech therapy, aide visits)?
- How soon can the first visit happen, and how often will staff come?
- Who do you call at night or on weekends if there is a problem?
- Will the same nurse or therapist usually come? How do they share updates with your doctor?
- Are staff licensed, background-checked and trained for your condition? Do any speak your language?
- What will Medicare, Medicaid or your insurance pay, and what might you pay? Ask for it in writing.
Warning signs
- Someone offers free services or gifts, or asks for your Medicare number, to sign you up without your doctor’s order.
- Missed or very short visits, or a different person every time with no explanation.
- Bills or Medicare statements for visits or equipment you did not get.
Costs and who pays
Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, therapy and aide visits when a doctor or other allowed practitioner orders the care, a plan of care is in place, and you are homebound (leaving home takes a major effort). You pay nothing for covered home health visits; medical equipment usually has 20% coinsurance.
Medicare does not pay for 24-hour care at home, meals delivered, or homemaker and personal care when that is the only care you need.
Medicaid is run by each state with federal rules, for people with limited income and savings. Rules, covered services and waiting lists differ by state: ask your state Medicaid agency.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or other insurance, call the plan first: it may need to approve the care in advance and may only pay for providers in its network.
In general terms only. Deductibles, coinsurance and other amounts change every year, and Medicaid rules differ by state: check Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your state Medicaid agency, and ask your plan.
How to complain or get help
- Call the agency’s office first. The agency must tell you, in writing, how to make a complaint.
- State home health hotline: each state has a toll-free hotline, run by the state agency that inspects home health agencies, to take complaints; the agency must give you the number.
- People with Medicare: the BFCC-QIO for your state reviews complaints about the quality of care and appeals if you think your services are ending too soon.
- If you think someone is being abused, neglected or exploited and is in danger, call 911. You can also report it to the state agency and to Adult Protective Services (the Eldercare Locator can give you the number).
- Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, free, with help in Spanish and other languages.
Find care on US Patient Guide
Common questions
Do I need a doctor’s order for home health care?
For Medicare to pay, yes: a doctor or other allowed practitioner must order the care, approve a plan of care and see you in person (or by telehealth) about the reason for the care.
What does “homebound” mean for Medicare?
Leaving home takes a major effort, for example the help of another person or a device such as a walker or wheelchair. You can still leave for medical care, religious services or adult day care, and for short, infrequent outings.
Can I choose the home health agency?
Yes. With Original Medicare you can choose any Medicare-certified agency that serves your area and accepts you. A Medicare Advantage plan may limit you to agencies in its network.
Sources
- Medicare Care Compare (Medicare.gov)
- Home health services: what Medicare covers (Medicare.gov)
- Medicare & Home Health Care (Medicare booklet 10969, PDF)
- Home Health CAHPS patient survey (CMS)
- Quality Improvement Organizations (CMS QIO Program)
- Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living), 1-800-677-1116
- Medicare.gov in Spanish
Written in plain language by US Patient Guide from the official sources above, November 2, 2026. The facts on each provider page come from the official data shown on that page, with its date. Not medical advice.