Home Health Care in 2025: How Much You’ll Really Pay (Even With Medicare)

If you’re exploring home health care—maybe for yourself, a parent, or someone you care about—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Health care costs can be confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out what Medicare actually pays for, and what comes out of your pocket.

Let’s walk through it in plain English so you know what to expect in 2025.

What Medicare Actually Covers in 2025

Here’s the good news: Medicare does cover some home health care services—but only under very specific conditions. You need to meet certain requirements, and the type of care has to fall within strict guidelines.

Here’s when Medicare will pay:

• A doctor must confirm that you need skilled care—like nursing, physical therapy, or speech therapy.

• You need to be classified as “homebound.” That means leaving the house is difficult and typically requires help.

• The care has to come from a Medicare-approved home health agency.

Services Medicare will cover:

• Skilled nursing (like wound care or administering medication)

• Physical, speech, and occupational therapy

• Medical social work support

• A home health aide (only if it’s tied to skilled care)

• Certain medical supplies like bandages or catheters

What’s not covered:

• Around-the-clock home care

• Personal help like bathing or dressing (unless it’s part of the skilled care)

• Housekeeping, laundry, or cooking

• Ongoing non-medical support

So if someone mostly needs help with everyday activities or companionship—but not medical care—Medicare won’t step in.

How Much You’ll Actually Pay (Even With Medicare)

Let’s talk about costs—because even with Medicare, there are still a few things to budget for.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Most people don’t pay a premium for Part A (as long as you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years). Part A is typically involved when home care follows a hospital stay.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
This is where most of your home health care coverage comes from.

In 2025, here’s what Part B looks like:

• Monthly premium: $185

• Annual deductible: $257

• Coinsurance: You pay 20% of the cost of any durable medical equipment (like walkers or wheelchairs)

Here’s a bit of a relief: for qualifying home health services, Medicare usually covers the full cost—there’s no coinsurance or copay for the services themselves. That said, you’re still on the hook for other costs if you need more than what Medicare offers.

If You Need More Than What Medicare Covers

When someone needs long-term care at home—especially help with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, cooking, or even just companionship—that’s where out-of-pocket costs come in. These are services Medicare simply doesn’t cover.

Here’s what private-pay in-home care looks like in 2025:

Average hourly rates:

• Non-medical companion care: $20 to $30/hour

• Personal care assistants (help with hygiene and mobility): $25 to $40/hour

• Skilled nursing care (from a licensed nurse): $40 to $75/hour

Monthly ballpark estimates:

• Part-time care (40 hours/week): $4,000 to $6,400 per month

• Full-time 24/7 care: $15,000 to $22,000 per month

Costs vary a lot depending on where you live and how intensive the care is. Care in a rural town may be more affordable than in a large city.

A New Policy Proposal to Keep an Eye On

In late 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a proposal aimed at expanding Medicare to include more home-based care services.

Here’s what’s in the proposal:

• Help seniors stay at home instead of moving to a facility

• Offer support for families who are struggling with caregiving

• Address the issue where people have to spend down their life savings to qualify for Medicaid long-term care

The plan is estimated to cost around $40 billion a year, with the funding potentially coming from expanded prescription drug price negotiations. While nothing is finalized yet, it could signal a big shift in how home care is supported in the future.

A Quick Look at Industry Momentum

This isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a growing business sector. Big healthcare companies are investing heavily in at-home care solutions.

For instance, UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers, was trading around $295 per share in May 2025. This kind of investment tells us that home-based care is becoming a central focus of the healthcare industry.

Here’s the takeaway: if you qualify under Medicare’s rules, you’ll get some support for skilled care at home. But if you or your loved one needs ongoing help with everyday tasks, you’ll likely need to cover those costs yourself.

To prepare, you might want to:

• Look into Medicare Advantage plans—they often offer more generous home care benefits than traditional Medicare.

• Explore long-term care insurance options (if you’re still eligible).

• Talk to a local aging services agency or a social worker to see what state or community programs may be available.

And if you’re trying to figure out what options are available in your area—whether that’s Jaipur or anywhere else—I’d be happy to help you search.