It’s no secret that the cost of home care can mount and mount quickly. Unfortunately, there’s not one program that provides payment for all the help that a client might need. The best options often depend upon a combined quilt of services from businesses, social service agencies, nonprofits, and insurers, as well as family members who understand their loved one’s desire to age in the comfort of home.
How to pay for long-term care is an issue that many ignore until there is a care need. Educating on the options and planning for the future can help clients better understand that long-term in-home care, even if one must pay for some of it, is a viable option for many.
Many people wrongly assume that long-term in-home care can be paid for with Medicare, pensions, or health insurance policies. Additionally, many caregivers shy away from recommending home care because even they often misunderstand the options to pay for needed care. Although not always easy to access, there are several options available to help clients afford long-term in-home care.
Government Programs
Medicare covers home health services like intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, occupational services and more. This care is brief – 90 days or less — and is ordered by a physician. Medicare also covers end-of-life hospice care if a patient has a life expectancy of fewer than six months. If a client has a very low income and few assets other than his or her home, Medicaid may pay for home-based care.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance policies have been in existence for decades and are becoming more widely known. Many long-term care insurance policies allow for substantial home care benefits and cover in-home care due to frailty or a chronic illness. However, to be affordable, these need to be purchased well before the person needs care.
Veterans Assistance
There are two types of assistance available for eligible veterans. One type is administered through the pension program and another through the VA healthcare system itself. The pension-related program, The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Program, pays money directly to the care recipient, who then pays the agency. The VA home health benefit is paid directly to the agency. Both programs assist chronically ill or disabled veterans of any age to enable them to remain in their homes as they age. For more information, visit the VA website and search for home care.
Additional Options to Pay for Long-Term Care
Beyond the choices mentioned above, there are several other options to pay for long-term care. However, they are limited to specific regions or people with certain diseases or conditions. An excellent resource to view payment options for diseases and regions is available online to share with clients.
It is always best to encourage families to thoroughly research a long-term care payment option before making a decision. Assisting clients and patients to research those options can benefit the in-home care industry at large, dispelling any rumors that in-home long-term care is not financially possible.