In my opinion, one of the most challenging things about understanding Home Health services is knowing the difference between home health and private pay. There are many similarities, and it can be easy to confuse them, mainly because they both involve a caregiver coming into the home to administer care. Private pay is also frequently referred to as home care or home health care, making it incredibly confusing. It’s essential to know the differences between the two to make an informed decision.
Home Health
Home health care is when a trained medical professional comes to your home to administer medical care, paid through health insurance. For home health care to be provided, a doctor must refer the patient to a home health agency, and the cost must be paid through health insurance.
Some of the services provided in Home Health are:
- Palliative Care – Managing symptoms from chronic long-term disease or illness.
- Skilled Nursing Care – Providing care and treatment offered only by registered nurses.
- Physical Therapy – Providing relief through exercise rather than through medication.
- Pain Management – Providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain.
- Occupational Therapy – Provides the tools to get back to enjoying the things patients love to do.
- Wound Care – Provides wound healing and prevents complications from arising.
Private Pay
Private pay is when a caregiver comes into the home to provide care for any reason. Private pay is not paid through insurance, and the care provided is not necessarily medically related. Many people who are home a lot but do not need regular visits from a medical professional often hire someone to come to their home to keep them company or perform simple tasks. Because there is no medical necessity, no referral from a doctor, and no insurance involved, these caregivers would qualify as private pay.
Some of the services provided in Private Pay are:
- Companionship – Helping the recipient feel less lonely and happier.
- Cleaning – Helping keep the recipient’s home clean to promote health and safety.
- Social Interaction – Providing the recipient with essential socialization.
- Bathing – Helping less-mobile recipients clean themselves to promote health.
- General Safety – Ensuring the recipient’s home is a safe place to live.
- Post-surgical Assistance – To provide general mobility and safety care for recipients.
Home health and private pay are very intertwined and often work together. Both of these services can be provided at the same time! Many patients will have a home health medical professional come to care for them several days of the week and have a private pay caregiver come from time to time.
If you have any confusion or questions about home health or private pay, Aspire is always here to help. Please give us a call to discuss what option would be best for you and your family!
