Medicare Home Health Care in Texas
DeGuardian Health Agency is Medicare-certified and provides skilled care at home for eligible beneficiaries across Allen, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Dallas, and the greater DFW area.
What Medicare Covers for Home Health
When a physician certifies that you are homebound and need intermittent skilled care, Medicare Part A and Part B cover:
- Skilled nursing care — wound care, IV therapy, injections, medication management, monitoring of medical conditions
- Physical therapy — gait training, balance, strength, post-surgical rehab
- Occupational therapy — regaining independence in daily activities
- Speech-language pathology — for stroke or neurological recovery
- Home health aide services — personal care, but only when you are also receiving skilled care
- Medical social services — counseling and resource coordination
- Medical supplies — wound dressings, catheters, and other consumables related to the plan of care
Eligibility for Medicare Home Health
To qualify for Medicare-covered home health, a beneficiary must meet all of these criteria:
- Under the care of a physician who has set up and regularly reviews a plan of care.
- Certified as homebound — leaving home requires considerable effort.
- Needs intermittent skilled care — skilled nursing, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology.
- Receiving care from a Medicare-certified home health agency — like DeGuardian Health.
- Face-to-face encounter with the certifying physician within the required time window before care begins.
What Medicare Does NOT Cover
- 24-hour-a-day care at home
- Meal delivery
- Homemaker services (shopping, cleaning, laundry) as a standalone service
- Personal care or companion care when it's the only care needed (these may be covered by Medicaid in some cases, by VA benefits, or by long-term care insurance)
We offer private-pay options for the services Medicare doesn't cover so families can build a complete care plan. See all payment options →
How to Start Medicare Home Health with DeGuardian
- Talk to your physician. Ask if home health is appropriate and ask them to refer you to DeGuardian Health Agency.
- Or call us directly. We can contact your physician on your behalf to coordinate orders.
- Hospital discharge? Tell the discharge planner you want DeGuardian Health.
- We verify coverage before any visit.
- Care begins — typically within 24 to 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare pay for home health care?
Yes. Medicare Part A and Part B cover home health care when a physician certifies that the patient is homebound and needs intermittent skilled care — skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or continuing occupational therapy.
What does "homebound" mean for Medicare?
A patient is considered homebound if leaving home requires considerable and taxing effort, and they normally cannot leave without help (a cane, walker, wheelchair, special transportation, or another person). Patients can still leave home for medical care, religious services, adult day care, and brief, infrequent absences.
How long will Medicare pay for home health?
Medicare covers home health in 60-day episodes of care. As long as the patient continues to meet eligibility — homebound, needs intermittent skilled care, and is under a physician's plan of care — coverage can continue. The physician must recertify need every 60 days.
Does Medicare cover personal care or companion care at home?
Medicare generally does not cover personal care or companion care as standalone services. However, when a patient is already receiving skilled care (such as skilled nursing) and qualifies as homebound, Medicare may cover home health aide visits for personal care as part of the plan of care.
Will I have to pay anything out of pocket?
For Medicare-covered home health services, beneficiaries typically pay nothing for the services themselves. Some durable medical equipment (such as oxygen, wheelchairs) involves a 20% coinsurance after the Part B deductible. We verify coverage and costs before care begins.
Can I get home health care from DeGuardian after a hospital stay?
Yes. We accept hospital discharge referrals and frequently begin care the day the patient comes home. The hospital discharge planner or your physician can refer you, or you can call us directly at 469-688-3631 and we will coordinate with your physician.