Questions to ask before you choose a home health agency

Before you choose a home health agency, ask if they serve your address and take your insurance. Also ask if they can staff every service your doctor ordered, and how they will reach you between visits.

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You get to choose

If you have Medicare, you can choose any Medicare-certified agency that serves your area. The hospital may give you a list. You can pick from it or name a different agency.

You can also switch agencies later. Tell your doctor and the new agency.

Questions to ask

Call two or three agencies and ask the same questions. Write down the answers.

Do you serve my address? Give them your full address or ZIP code.
Do you take my insurance? If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, ask if the agency is in network. Ask if your plan must approve care first.
Can you staff every service my doctor ordered? Some agencies have few speech therapists or wound care nurses. Name the services you need.
When could the first visit happen?
How will I know when someone is coming? Ask if they call before each visit.
What happens if a visit is missed or late? Ask who will call you and when the visit is made up.
Who do I call at night or on weekends? Ask for the number and who answers it.
How will you keep my doctor updated? Ask how they share changes and questions with your doctor.
Will I see the same few people? Some agencies try to keep a small team for each patient. Ask what to expect.
Will I owe anything? Ask about copays and the cost of any equipment.

Look up agencies on Medicare Care Compare

Medicare has a free tool called Care Compare at medicare.gov/care-compare. You can look up agencies near you.

It shows the services each agency offers, survey results from patients, and some quality measures. Use it as one source, along with the answers you get when you call.

Ask people you trust

Ask your doctor, the hospital discharge planner, or friends who have used home health. Ask what went well and what did not.

Things to watch for

The agency will not tell you which services it can staff.
You feel pushed to sign up for care your doctor did not order.
Someone offers you gifts, cash, or free services to choose them. Medicare rules do not allow this.

You can ask us too

You can ask Adaptive Home Health every question on this list. Call us at 214-440-1394 (Texas) or 303-597-0505 (Colorado).

Questions? Call us.

We can answer questions about home health, Medicare, and your insurance, before or during care.