---
title: "Home Health Compare: how to check an agency"
description: "How to use Care Compare to check a Medicare-certified home health agency: the two star ratings, what they measure, and what to ask next."
url: https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/home-health-compare/
updated: 2026-10-10
site: Senior Choice Care
---

How-to

# How to check a home health agency on Care Compare

Your parent can choose the agency. Here is how to compare them.

**2 minute read** Updated October 9, 2026Written by the Senior Choice Care team

In short

Home Health Compare is part of Medicare's Care Compare. Search home health services by location, then compare agencies on two CMS star ratings: quality of patient care, and the patient survey of experience. Confirm the agency serves your address and offers the services the doctor ordered, then call with our home health questions.

**Written by the Senior Choice Care team** Updated October 9, 2026. Facts are checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. General information; every family is different.

1. **Open Care Compare** Choose home health services and enter your location.
2. **Compare** Pick two or three agencies.
3. **Read both ratings** Quality of patient care and patient survey.
4. **Call** Ask about start dates and after-hours help.

## Questions families ask

### What are home health star ratings?

CMS publishes a quality of patient care rating and a patient survey rating.

### Do all agencies have a patient survey rating?

Only those with enough completed surveys.

### Can I pick my home health agency?

Yes, among agencies that serve the area and accept your parent.

### Is home health free?

Medicare pays for covered home health services for eligible people.

## Sources

- [Medicare.gov Care Compare: nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice and more](https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/)
- [CMS: Home Health Star Ratings](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/home-health/home-health-star-ratings)
- [Medicare.gov: Home health services coverage](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services)

## Read next

- [Check a provider](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/)
- [Home health questions](https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/home-health-agency/)
- [After the hospital](https://seniorchoicecare.com/after-the-hospital/)
- [Assisted living inspections](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/assisted-living-inspection-reports/)
- [Hospice Compare](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/hospice-compare/)
- [Long-term care ombudsman](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/long-term-care-ombudsman/)
- [Nursing Home Compare](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/nursing-home-compare/)
- [Nursing home inspections](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/nursing-home-inspection-reports/)

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