Home Care Patients: What You Need to Know
What home care patients and families need to know about DME, insurance coverage and daily living equipment in South Florida.
Home care allows patients to receive support and treatment in the comfort of their own home rather than a facility — but for new patients and families, knowing what to expect with equipment, insurance, and caregiver support can be confusing. Here's what home care patients in South Florida need to know.
What Home Care Typically Includes
Home care can involve personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming), medication assistance, and durable medical equipment (DME) like hospital beds, wheelchairs, or oxygen — along with the delivery, setup, and training needed to use that equipment safely.
DME Delivery, Setup & Training
When equipment is part of your care plan, AHCEQUIP delivers and assembles it in-home and walks you and your caregivers through safe operation before leaving. This includes everything from hospital bed positioning to oxygen concentrator settings, so equipment is ready to use safely from day one. Browse our full range of home medical equipment.
Caregiver Support
Caring for a loved one at home is demanding, and support resources exist beyond the equipment itself:
- Respite care gives primary caregivers scheduled breaks — ask your case manager or home health agency about local respite options.
- Training resources from your DME supplier and home health team help caregivers learn equipment use, safe transfers, and basic care tasks.
- When to call the doctor: Know your care plan's specific warning signs (fever, unusual pain, equipment malfunction) versus situations that can wait for a scheduled follow-up.
The Family Caregiver Alliance is a helpful national resource for caregiver training and respite programs.
AHCEQUIP's Concierge Services
Beyond equipment delivery, AHCEQUIP offers concierge-level support for home care patients and families, including insurance liaison services to handle prior authorization and billing questions, discharge planning coordination with hospital case managers, and on-call support for urgent equipment issues. Learn more on our services page.
Medicare-Covered Equipment vs. Self-Pay
Medicare Part B, Florida Medicaid, and most private insurers cover home care equipment when it's medically necessary and prescribed by a physician — see our DME insurance coverage guide for a full breakdown. Some convenience items or upgrades beyond what's medically necessary may require self-pay; AHCEQUIP's team will always tell you upfront which costs, if any, fall outside your coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover home care equipment setup and training?
Delivery and setup are typically included with covered DME at no extra charge through accredited suppliers like AHCEQUIP.
What's the difference between home care and home health care?
Home care generally refers to non-medical personal support, while home health care includes skilled nursing or therapy services ordered by a physician. DME can be part of either.
How do I find respite care for a family caregiver?
Ask your home health agency, hospital social worker, or local Area Agency on Aging — many offer free or subsidized respite programs.
What should trigger an immediate call to the doctor versus waiting?
Always follow your specific care plan's guidance, but new or worsening symptoms, equipment malfunction affecting safety, or signs of infection generally warrant an immediate call.
Transitioning from hospital to home care? Call AHCEQUIP at (954) 772-5052 for discharge support.
