How does one go about getting Medicare to pay for home care coverage? I know that hospice coverage is available as long as the patient has less than six months to live, but what are the requirements to be met to allow for care to be provided in the home?

There are four requirements in order to have home health care services covered. First your doctor must say that it is needed and develop a plan for your care. Second, you need to have intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, or to continue occupational therapy - these are the areas that Medicare covers. Third, you need to be homebound (you can be able to go out to the doctor or church but not be out and about all the time). The final thing is that the home health care agency must be approved by Medicare.