This means that beneficiaries with Original. Medicare coverage specifically excludes homemaker services, such as housekeeping and shopping. This means that beneficiaries covered by Original Medicare will have to cover the costs of housekeeping services out of pocket, even if they have a medical condition that makes it difficult to clean their home. In any case, at least currently, even an Advantage plan will not cover regular, broad-based home cleaning services.
Homemaker services are not included in Original Medicare coverage. Medicare defines these services as “shopping, cleaning and laundry. If you are unable to perform these tasks yourself because of illness, injury, or physical disability, then the cost of laundry and household cleaning services will generally fall on you, as Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover them. Heavier and more extensive cleaning of the house, such as bathroom cleaning, vacuuming, window cleaning, and the like, are never covered by Medicare A or B.
If you have difficulty cleaning your home because of a medical condition, you may benefit from other home health services. However, regular use of a paid service can be expensive, so you may be wondering if you can request cleaning of the house through your health insurance. While Medicare does not cover household cleaning services, it may cover certain home health services. A Medicare Advantage plan is unlikely to pay for regular, routine house cleaning, but it may cover certain cleaning services if there is a clear health need.
Some of these Advantage plans may begin to cover more regular and general housekeeping services, especially for patients who are very ill, disabled and chronically ill.
