Medicare’s home health benefit is crucial to the welfare of its 62 million beneficiaries. Older Americans and people with disabilities rely on Medicare home health for postacute services and to help manage chronic conditions, but the benefit is difficult to access and service restrictions limit its potential. A recent study finds disparities by race, ethnicity, and income in the use of home health services. We interviewed 17 Medicare beneficiaries of different gender, race, ethnicity, and age who need help managing health conditions at home, along with their caregivers, to better understand what beneficiaries experience and the challenges they face. The interviews revealed the following insights:
