Frequently Asked Questions

Patients who have Medicare Part A benefits and who meet home health coverage guidelines, services are covered at 100% by Medicare. Frontier Home Health verifies insurance coverage as a courtesy to all prospective patients. Call us and we will be glad to discuss your situation with you.

You must be homebound or normally unable to leave home. Leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort. A person may leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, such as a trip to the barber or to attend religious services.

There is no set length of time for home care—it can vary greatly based on a person’s unique needs. Some home care services may last for a few weeks, while others may be lifelong. If a physician is prescribing your home care, he or she will oversee services until your recovery goals are met. However, if you are making the decision to start home care on your own, you can determine how many hours a week of care you need, and how often. Some home care providers may have a minimum hourly commitment to start care, or require you to sign a contract for a certain duration of time, so it’s important to ask any provider you consider.

Different types of care require different certifications and training. Depending on your specific needs, the caregivers and clinicians coming into your home can vary. You could have different caregivers at different times of the day, week, or month as part of your care. Personal care and companionship services are most often provided by a home health aide (HHA) or certified nursing assistant (CNA). Private duty nursing care and home health care services are provided by registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs), physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), or speech language pathologists (SLPs). A medical social worker (MSW) can help individuals and family members connect with community resources. Additionally, depending on the provider you choose, there may be other professionals who don’t come to your home on a regular basis, but can be instrumental in helping to manage your care. These experts may help with things like overseeing your overall care experience, coordinating schedules, billing insurance companies and Medicare directly, and verifying your benefits eligibility.

Home care enables a person to live as independently as possible without having to give up the comforts of their own home. It allows them to be in a familiar environment, sleep in their own bed at night, and stay close to loved ones like family, friends, and pets. It also brings peace of mind to know they have access to skilled, consistent, reliable care when it’s needed, even if those needs change. When compared to other alternatives of care, home care can be significantly more cost effective. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), at-home care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and effective