---
title: "What Is Homebound status? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Homebound status is a Medicare rule for the home health benefit. A person is homebound when leaving home is not advised or is very hard without help, and..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/homebound-status/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Paying for care

# Homebound status

Homebound status is a Medicare rule for the home health benefit. A person is homebound when leaving home is not advised or is very hard without help, and leaving takes a lot of effort. Medical visits, short non-medical outings such as religious services, and adult day care are allowed.

## Why it matters for your family

Homebound does not mean you can never leave the house. Medicare allows trips for medical care, adult day care, and short outings such as religious services. A person who goes to a doctor and needs a walker and help from another person to leave home may meet the rule. A common mistake is to think a person must be bedridden. Another is to think a homebound person can get all home care paid by Medicare. Homebound status is only one test. The person also needs skilled care ordered by a doctor. A doctor makes the call on medical need.

Source: [medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services)

[Read more: What Medicare Doesn't Cover](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/home-care-resources/what-medicare-doesnt-cover/)

## Related terms

-   [**Medicare home health benefit**The Medicare home health benefit pays for part-time or intermittent skilled care at home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-home-health-benefit/)
-   [**Home health care**Home health care is medical care given at home for an illness or injury, such as skilled nursing and therapy.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-care/)
-   [**Skilled nursing care**Skilled nursing care is nursing and therapy that only licensed professionals, or staff supervised by them, can safely provide.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skilled-nursing-care/)
-   [**Adult day care**Adult day care is a community program that gives adults supervised daytime care outside the home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/adult-day-care/)
-   [**Mobility assistance**Mobility assistance is help with moving around, such as standing up, walking, using stairs, and getting in and out of a bed, chair, or car.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/mobility-assistance/)
-   [**Medicare Part A**Medicare Part A is hospital insurance.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-part-a/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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