Skip to Main Content
chevron-right
chevron-left
chevron-down
chevron-up
chevron-circle-up
chevron-circle-right
chevron-circle-down
chevron-circle-left
Facebook Logo
Twitter Logo
Linkedin Logo
Youtube Logo
Instagram Logo
Google Plus Logo
Vimeo Logo
Issuu Logo
Right arrow
Left arrow
Location
Search
Phone Icon
Services
Home Care
Senior Care
Home Nursing Services
At Home Therapies
Respite Care
Home Care FAQ
Hospice
Bereavement & Grief
Hospice & Alzheimers
Hospice Costs
Hospice Pet Therapy
Special Care Programs
Your Care Team
Specialized Home Care
Patient-Centered Dementia Care
Arthritis
Congestive Heart Failure
Huntington’s Disease
Hypertension / Blood Pressure
Coronary Artery Disease
Diabetes
COPD
Joint Replacement
Mental Health and Depression
Home Care Support for Multiple Sclerosis
Palliative Care
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
Parkinson's Disease
Pediatric Care
Traumatic Brain Injury
Ventilator Care
Wound Care
Veterans Care
Staffing
Staffing FAQ
COVID-19 Vaccination Staffing
Careers
About Us
COVID-19 Update
Our Standard of Care
Our History
Franchise Leader
Executive Team
Caring Brands International
Press Releases
Honoring Veterans
Historic Milestones
Contact Us
Education Center
Aging in Place
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Health Aide
8 Dietary Tips for Improving Senior Heart Health
Talking About Substance Abuse as a Caregiver
How to Take Care of Aging Hair
4 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Seniors
Designing Outdoor Living Areas for Seniors
Getting A Grip: How and Where to Install Bathroom Grab Bars
Keeping Active: Tips for Senior Gardening
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Calculating the Cost
Certified Senior Advisors
Consumer Health Care Education
Advisor Care Giving Guide
Care in a Residential Facility
Check Your Home Care IQ
Elder Care Communities
Consumer Alert
Medicare and Home Care
Senior Care Resources
Senior Care Scams
Consumer Rights
Signs That Care At Home is Needed
Long Term Care
Fall Prevention
Mobility in Seniors
Falls FAQ's
Home Safety Checklist
Home Safety Tips
Hidden Hazards
Medications and Fall Risk
Reduce the Risk of Falling
Risk of Falling
Visiting the Doctor and Discussing Falls
What to Do If Someone Falls
Family Caregiving
Elder Care Videos
Hiring Your Own Caregivers
Family Care Giving Facts
Information for Seniors
Long Distance Caregiving
Starting the Conversation
The Stress of Family Caregiving
Taking Care Of Yourself as a Family Caregiver
Home Care Technology
Hospice Fact or Myth
In-Home Caregivers
Senior Health
Exercise and Older Adults
Senior Nutrition
Taking Medications
Tips for Lowering Blood Pressure
Seniors and Zika Virus
Savvy Senior
Stories From Home
Transitioning from a Facility
Independent Living Assessment
Blog
Facebook
Linkedin
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Home
>
Education Center
>
January 2018
>
Help With Home-Care Bills
Help With Home-Care Bills
Posted: 1/11/2018 8:50 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
Do you know of any resources that can help with my mother’s home-care bills? Mom is recovering from a stroke and needs in-home care, but I understand Medicare doesn’t cover it, and she doesn’t have long-term care insurance.
Stressed-Out Daughter
Dear Stressed-Out,
Depending on your mom’s circumstances, there are a number of government and not-for-profit programs that can that either subsidize or pay for your mom’s home care or offer aid in other ways. Here’s where to look for help.
Medicare Coverage
If your mom is recovering from a stroke, the first thing you need to know is that Medicare does cover a variety of in-home health care services. To be eligible your mom must be “homebound,” and her doctor will need to approve a “plan of care” confirming that she needs skilled-nursing care or skilled-therapy services from a physical or speech therapist. Her doctor can also request the services of an occupational therapist and a non-medical home aide to assist with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing and using the bathroom.
But, be aware that Medicare will not pay for non-medical home aide services alone, if your mom does not need skilled-nursing or skilled-therapy services too. Homemaker services, such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are not covered either.
For more information on how this works, call 1-800-MEDICARE or see
Medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services.html
.
Medicaid Options
If you mom’s income is low enough, she may qualify for Medicaid, which offers different programs that can pay for non-medical home care, home health care and other in-home support services. These programs, often referred to as Home and Community Based Services, are state-specific and their eligibility and benefits will vary. To find out if your mom is eligible, contact her state Medicaid agency (see
Medicaid.gov
)
.
State Programs
If your mom doesn’t qualify for the Medicare or Medicaid options, check to see if her state offers any state-funded home-care programs. These programs may provide caregivers or vouchers that can help pay for care. To find out about these services, call the Area Agency on Aging near your mom – see
ElderCare.gov
or call 800-677-1116 for contact information.
Also investigate PACE, which stands for “Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.” PACE, which is currently available in 31 states – though not in every community – provides in-home care, including help with activities of daily living, such as meals, dental and medical care, prescriptions, and chaperoned transportation, among other benefits.
Medicaid-eligible patients get PACE for free, but if your mom is not eligible for Medicaid, she may be charged a monthly premium, though far less than she would pay a private service. To see if PACE is available in your mom’s area, see
NPAonline.org
.
Veterans Benefits
If your mom is a veteran, or a surviving spouse of a veteran, the VA also offers some benefits that can help pay her in-home care.
One is “Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowances,” which are supplemental monthly benefits for veterans already receiving a monthly VA pension and requiring healthcare. Veterans and surviving spouses qualify if they have certain disabilities or need help with activities such as dressing, bathing, and feeding, among other criteria. Go to
Vets.gov/pension
for more information.
Another option is the “Veteran-Directed Care” program. This program, available through VA medical centers in 38 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, provides as much as $2,000 a month that can be used to pay a professional or family member or friend for home care. The program is open to any veteran who meets the criteria, including requiring help with three or more activities of daily living. Visit the “Home and Community Based Services” section at
VA.gov/geriatric
s
for information.
To look for additional programs in your area that can help pay your mom’s home care, go to
PayingForSeniorCare.com
and use their Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator tool.