Do you or your loved one need in-home health care? We know just how important it is to stay safe, happy, and healthy as long as possible at home.
One of the first questions you may be asking is how to pay for in-home care. The questions we hear most often are:
- What insurance covers in-home care?
- What in-home care is covered by Medicare?
- How can we pay for in-home care if insurance doesn’t cover it?
- How much does in-home care cost?
- How to qualify for home health care under Medicaid?
- What home health services are covered by Medicaid?
- How long will Medicaid pay for home health care?
What insurance covers in-home care?
Private long-term care insurance can be used to pay for in-home care, including in-home help with activities of daily living like bathing and dressing. It’s important to carefully check the details of your plan, as not all policies will cover what they call “nonmedical” services.
Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care plans administered by Florida Community Care, Sunshine Healthcare, Simply Healthcare, and Humana can be used to pay for in-home care. See the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for more details.
There are a number of other programs that can help. We take referrals from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and accept VA Aid and Attendance program benefits. Some Medicare supplemental plans may qualify, too.
What in-home care is covered by Medicare?
In Florida, Medicare covers medically necessary part-time in-home care, including skilled nursing, for an illness or injury. It also covers part-time home health aide services, such as help with walking, bathing, and feeding, in specific situations. In order to qualify, a doctor must certify the need for skilled care, and the person receiving care must be classified as “homebound.”
See the Medicare home health services webpage for full details and information.
How can we pay for in-home care if insurance doesn’t cover it?
There are many other ways to pay for the help you or your loved one needs. While long-term care insurance is the most common way to pay for our in-home care services, some people use personal funds, home equity loans, or reverse mortgages. Others have converted life insurance policies.
We are here to help you find a solution. Call us at any time at (772) 773-6994. We answer our phones 24/7. Or, contact us about our caring, reliable in-home care through our website.
How much does in-home care cost?
The cost of in-home care varies. The care needed may be 16 hours per week or more up to 24/7 care. Typical costs are about $25–30 per hour. To find out exactly what in-home care would cost in your unique situation, call us at (772) 773-6994.
How to qualify for home health care under Medicaid?
Who qualifies for home health care services? Right now, if you or your loved one is a Florida Medicaid recipient, there are three essential criteria:
- Must be under the care of an attending physician and have a physician’s order for home health services.
- Must have a medical condition or disability that substantially limits the ability to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing and eating, or to perform instrumental activities of daily living — more complex tasks necessary for staying independent and self-sufficient — like shopping, cooking, cleaning, or driving. And, someone who does not have a legal guardian who can provide care.
- Must require services that can be safely, effectively, and efficiently provided in-home.
Always carefully double-check the criteria, please. Regulations and funding may change.
What home health services are covered by Medicaid?
Medicaid covers a wide range of home health services. Some of the most common services are:
- Personal care. Designed to help you or your loved one stay independent and in your home as long as possible, these include help with everything from bathing to meals to shopping and errands.
- Homemaking. Our care providers will clean, do laundry, cook, and shop.
- Companion care. People live longer, healthier lives when they have companionship and support. Our care providers will suggest fun activities, go on walks, or drive you or your loved one to appointments and get-togethers.
- Respite care. Our trusted care providers will take over to give you the break you need. We’ll remind your loved one to take their medication, help with bathing and meals, and run errands or drive.
How long will Medicaid pay for home health care?
Generally, Medicaid will pay for home health care for as long as it’s medically necessary. So, if a doctor decides that home care is necessary for a patient’s health and overall well-being, Medicaid will cover the cost.
Finding just the right in-home care — and how to pay for it — can be complicated. We understand. Call us 24/7 at (772) 773-6994 or contact us about our 5-star in-home care through our website.
