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coverage
Does TRICARE cover home health care?
Verified by TRICARE.com Editorial Team
Updated 2024-12-01
AI-assisted (gemini, gpt-4o)
Quick Answer
TRICARE covers skilled home health care including nursing, physical therapy, and medical services when physician-ordered and provided by certified agencies.
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Key Takeaways
- Skilled care covered
- Physician order required
- Certified agency must provide
- Custodial care not covered
Detailed Answer
TRICARE covers home health services:
What's Covered
- Skilled nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Medical social services
- Home health aide (with skilled care)
Requirements
- Physician's order
- Homebound status (generally)
- Skilled care needed
- Certified home health agency
- Reasonable and necessary
Types of Care
- Intermittent skilled nursing
- Wound care
- Injection/medication management
- Rehabilitation services
- Post-surgical care
What's NOT Covered
- Custodial care (help with daily activities only)
- 24-hour nursing
- Homemaker services
- Meal preparation alone
Duration
- Based on medical necessity
- Periodic recertification required
- Goal is improvement or stability
Cost
- Active duty: No cost
- Prime: Copay per visit
- Select: Cost-share applies
Helpful Tips
- Get physician documentation
- Use certified agencies
- Understand skilled vs custodial care