Who Pays for Home Care? 
Home care is paid for by a variety of sources. Benefits and requirements vary greatly, however. Major home care payment sources include:
PATIENT/PRIVATE PAY
Home care services can be personally paid. The scope of services and the charges are negotiated between the patient/family and the agency. For those whose resources do not cover home care, some home care agencies offer a sliding-scale fee schedule so that a family need only pay what it can afford.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
Policy coverage varies. Generally private insurance coverage is limited to physician-directed medical services and equipment. The patient and family should check with their insurance agent to determine coverage specifics.
MEDICARE
The patient must be under a physician's plan of care, homebound, and in need of part time or intermittent skilled nursing care or occupational/physical/speech therapy. Eligible clients may receive a range of services which include skilled nursing, home care aide, speech, and occupational therapy, medical social work and medical supplies/equipment.
MEDICAID
This federal/state administered medical assistance program provides services similar to Medicare for low-income people. No prior hospitalization or "skilled" level of service is required to qualify. Individuals do not need to be homebound.
Click the following links for informational videos about Medicare & Medicaid: (part one) (part two).
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANTS
These Title XX funds are available for in-home care services including home care aide, chore and personal care.
OLDER AMERICANS ACT
Title III of the Older Americans Act provides in-home services including home-delivered meals, home care aide, personal care, chore, escort and shopping services.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Any person needing home care services as a result of injury on the job is eligible. Workers' compensation representatives have information on eligibility.
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS
HMOs and Comprehensive Medical Plans (CMP) with Medicare contracts must provide the full range of Medicare-covered services that are available in a geographic area, including home care services.
CHAMPUS
On a cost-shared basis this program covers skilled nursing care and other professional medical home care for dependents of active military personnel, retiree's and their dependents and survivors.