What is a Homebound Person in Medicare?
Homebound refers to someone who cannot leave home due to a medical condition. Homebound individuals can still leave home for brief periods for non-medical reasons such as graduation, family reunions, funerals, and funerals. This condition must be certified by a doctor.
Medicare considers you homebound if:
- Leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition.
- Your condition keeps you from leaving home without help (like using a wheelchair or walker, needing special transportation, or getting help from another person).
- Leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort.
Based on your medical condition, your doctor will determine if you’re homebound. Your plan of care will also confirm that you are homebound if you have Medicare’s home health benefit. Your doctor must certify that your home health care plan has been recertified every 60 days after you begin receiving it.
You can leave your home even if you’re homebound for religious or medical services and/or to visit a licensed or accredited adult care center. This will not put your Medicare homebound status in danger. Your homebound status should not be affected by your ability to leave home for short periods or for non-medical reasons, such as a graduation, family reunion, funeral, or funeral. You might also make occasional trips to the beauty salon or barbershop.