How Do I Make Home Health Care More Affordable?

The following is a brief overview of the largest sources of funding for home care services:

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for retirees (or spouses of retirees) over the age of 65 and those with disabilities. Medicare offers a short-term solution, and individuals MUST be homebound to qualify for home care under Medicare. In the event that skilled nursing services are also needed, Medicare may cover services provided by a CHHA on a limited basis.

Medicaid, on the other hand, helps cover home care costs for those with low income or limited resources. In New Jersey, Medicaid may cover home care services for those needing long-term care under the Personal Care Assistance Program (PCA). A potential setback associated with Medicaid, however, is that it may be out of reach for those with incomes above the eligibility bracket.

To combat this, there are a few little-known paths that are worth pursuing for those who want to minimize home care costs. These include:

Waiver Programs: Have different eligibility criteria than traditional Medicaid, although they offer similar benefits. Waiver programs include, but are not limited to:

Respite Care Programs: Respite programs offer funding for healthcare services as a means of providing relief for families and unpaid caregivers. Elderly individuals and disabled individuals over the age of 18 are eligible for respite care. Addition eligibility criteria include:

  • Resident of New Jersey
  • Chronic physical or mental disability that requires supervision or daily living assistance from a caregiver
  • Income at or below $1,682 per month
    ($3,384 for couples)
  • Liquid assets of less than $40,000

Find out more here: NJ Statewide Respite Care Program

Veterans Administration: Qualified veterans are eligible for home care services. Contact your local Veterans Administration facility for more information. Find out more by calling the NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, Phone: 1-888-865-8387 (1-888-8NJ-VETS) or visit the Veterans Service Office Contact List by NJ County

Older Americans Act and Social Service Block Grants:
On account of the Older Americans Act, the federal government subsidizes the cost of certain services for elderly citizens. There are no income restrictions, and those over the age of 60 are eligible. Find out more here: Older Americans Act

Insurance: Both long-term care insurance and standard health insurance may cover home healthcare services, a little known fact. Calling your insurance provider may yield some surprising results, especially if home care is covered in its entirety!

Private Payment: Private payment is often necessary to pay for home care services or to supplement the limited funding provided by another source. This is particularly true for individuals who require supervision rather than “medically-related care.” Non-profit home care agencies may have sliding fee scales or subsidy funds to aid those with limited means.

Without a doubt, staying informed is a fundamental part of finding the best solution for healthcare for yourself or a loved one. To that end, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of the resources provided on this site to research your options — knowing where you can turn for help with your healthcare needs is vital.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@ghcare.com should you have any questions after reviewing "Home Care and Who’s Paying."