Many veterans and their families call the Tampa area home. When a veteran comes home from the hospital, recovers from surgery or lives with a long-term health condition, home health care can bring skilled nursing and therapy to their door. This guide explains how home health care for veterans in Tampa works: how Medicare and Medicare Advantage cover it, where VA benefits fit in, and how to check your coverage before care starts.
Two separate systems: VA health care and Medicare
Many veterans have more than one kind of health coverage. Some get care through the VA. Some have Medicare. Many have both.
These are separate programs with separate rules. In general:
- You can be enrolled in VA health care and Medicare at the same time.
- For each kind of care, you choose which benefit to use.
- Medicare does not pay for care that the VA has authorized and paid for, and the VA does not pay for care that Medicare covered.
That means the first step is knowing which benefit you plan to use for home health care. The answer decides which agencies you can use and what the rules are.
Home health care for veterans with Medicare
If you have Original Medicare and qualify, Medicare covers skilled home health care from a Medicare-certified agency. Being a veteran does not change those rules, and being enrolled in VA health care does not stop you from using your Medicare benefit.
Medicare home health care can include:
- Skilled nursing for wound care, medicines, injections, catheter care and chronic conditions such as heart failure, COPD and diabetes
- Physical therapy to rebuild strength, balance and walking
- Occupational therapy to make bathing, dressing and daily tasks safer
- Speech-language therapy for speech, swallowing and thinking skills
- Medical social work for planning and community resources
- Home health aide visits for personal care, alongside skilled care
Our Medicare home health page explains the benefit in more detail.
Medicare Advantage plans
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan covers home health care instead of Original Medicare. Each plan has its own network of agencies and may need to approve care before it starts. Call your plan, or ask the agency to check for you, before you assume an agency is in your network.
VA home care programs: talk to your VA care team
The VA offers its own home and community-based services for enrolled veterans. Depending on your eligibility and health needs, these may include help from a VA home-based care team, help with personal care at home, and support for family caregivers. Some veterans and surviving spouses who receive a VA pension may also qualify for an added monthly amount to help pay for help with daily activities.
The rules for these programs are set by the VA and depend on your enrollment, your health needs and sometimes your service history. The best place to start is your VA primary care team or a VA social worker. Ask them:
- Which home care programs am I eligible for?
- What would the VA cover, and what would I use Medicare for?
- Who will provide the care, and how is it arranged?
- Is there support for my family caregiver?
An important note about VA Community Care
Making Memories Home Health does not accept VA Community Care. That means we cannot take home health referrals or authorizations from the VA, and the VA does not pay us for care.
If your VA care team recommends home health care paid for by the VA, they can explain which providers they work with. If you would rather use your Medicare or Medicare Advantage benefit for home health, and you qualify, that is a separate path. Please call us first so we can confirm whether we can help.
How to verify your coverage before care starts
Coverage questions are easier to sort out before the first visit. When you call any home health agency, have these ready:
- Your Medicare card or your Medicare Advantage card
- Any other insurance cards you carry
- Your doctor’s name and phone number
- The reason you need care, such as a recent hospital stay or surgery
Making Memories Home Health accepts specific plans. We accept Traditional Medicare, plus long-term care plans and private pay. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. You can also see our insurance page.
If you are not sure which of your benefits to use, ask before care starts. A short call can prevent a surprise bill later.
Who qualifies for home health care as a veteran?
If you plan to use Medicare, the requirements are the same for veterans as for everyone else. You generally qualify when:
- A doctor or allowed practitioner orders it. A doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant certifies that you need care at home and reviews your plan of care.
- You need skilled care. That means part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, or continued occupational therapy.
- You are homebound. Leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort. Short, infrequent trips for medical care, religious services or adult day care are allowed.
- You have a face-to-face visit. A doctor or allowed practitioner sees you for the reason you need home health, within 90 days before or 30 days after care starts.
- The agency is Medicare-certified.
Medicare does not cover 24-hour care at home, meal delivery, or homemaker or personal care when that is the only care you need. Medicare Advantage plans follow their own rules, so check with your plan. For help with personal care and housekeeping, ask about our home care and long-term care services, available through Medicaid Long-Term Care plans or private pay.
If most of your care happens at the VA, ask us when you call what the doctor’s order needs to include. Our article on understanding your Medicare home health benefits explains the benefit step by step.
Tips for veterans and their families
- Keep one medicine list. Veterans who see both VA and community doctors may get medicines from more than one place. Bring every bottle to your first home health visit so the nurse can review them all.
- Share records. Let your community doctors and the home health team know about care you get at the VA, and the other way around.
- Name a point person. Choose one family member to keep track of appointments and benefits.
- Ask for help early. Do not wait for a fall or a hospital stay. Our article on signs an aging parent needs home health care lists changes to watch for.
- Care for the caregiver. Spouses and adult children carry a lot. Ask your care teams about caregiver support.
Follow your doctor’s instructions, and call 911 for any emergency.
How Making Memories Home Health can help
Making Memories Home Health Inc is a Medicare-certified home health agency in Tampa, accredited by The Joint Commission. We are family-founded by experienced ICU and emergency nurses, and our team speaks English and Spanish. We serve Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties with skilled nursing, therapy, medical social work and home health aide visits.
We are honored to care for veterans who qualify for home health care under Traditional Medicare or one of the Medicare Advantage plans we accept. We do not accept VA Community Care.
To check whether we can help, call us at (813) 931-0015, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Have your insurance cards ready so we can verify your coverage. Doctors can send a referral.
Frequently asked questions
Can a veteran use Medicare for home health care?
Yes. A veteran who has Medicare and meets the home health requirements can get skilled home health care from a Medicare-certified agency, the same as anyone else with Medicare. Being enrolled in VA health care does not prevent you from using Medicare.
Does Making Memories Home Health accept VA Community Care?
No. We do not accept VA Community Care. If your VA care team recommends home care paid for by the VA, they can explain which providers they work with. If you have Medicare, a Medicaid Long-Term Care plan or another health plan, call us to verify your coverage.
Can Medicare and the VA both pay for the same home health visit?
No. Medicare does not pay for a service the VA has already covered, and the VA does not pay for a service Medicare covered. For each kind of care, you choose which benefit to use.
Where can I learn about VA home care programs?
Start with your VA primary care team or a VA social worker. They can explain the home and community-based programs you may qualify for based on your enrollment and health needs.