One of the first questions families ask when they begin looking for home care is simple:
How are we going to pay for it?
The answer is not always as straightforward as it should be. Depending on the individual, home care may be paid privately, through long-term care insurance, through a government program, or through certain health insurance benefits.
At EasyLiving, we work with a wide range of payer sources to make care accessible to as many families as possible. We also help families understand which options may be available to them.
Private Pay
Many EasyLiving clients pay for care privately.
Private pay provides the greatest flexibility because care is based on what you and your family determine is needed rather than the number of hours or services authorized by an insurance company or government program.
Families can use personal income, savings, retirement assets, trusts, or other available resources to pay for care.
Long-Term Care Insurance
EasyLiving accepts all long-term care insurance policies.
Long-term care insurance is specifically designed to help pay for services such as home care when someone needs assistance with activities of daily living or has cognitive impairment.
Every policy is different. Benefits, elimination periods, daily or monthly maximums, and eligibility requirements vary by policy.
If you have a long-term care insurance policy, our team can help you understand how it may work with EasyLiving’s services.
Veterans Affairs (VA)
EasyLiving is contracted with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide home care for eligible veterans and, depending on the program, eligible spouses.
VA programs can provide an important source of support for veterans who need assistance remaining safely at home.
Eligibility and the amount of authorized care are determined by the VA, not EasyLiving. Once services are authorized, our team can coordinate with the VA to begin care.
PACE
EasyLiving works with PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
PACE is designed to help qualifying older adults receive comprehensive healthcare and supportive services while continuing to live in the community rather than moving into a nursing facility.
For individuals enrolled in PACE, authorized home care services may be coordinated through their PACE program.
Area Agency on Aging
EasyLiving also works with the Area Agency on Aging and programs that provide community-based services for qualifying older adults.
These programs can help eligible seniors receive assistance at home, although funding, eligibility, available hours, and waiting lists may vary.
Medicaid
EasyLiving is contracted with multiple Florida Medicaid health plans.
Our Medicaid payer partners include:
- Sunshine Health
- UnitedHealthcare
- Simply Healthcare
- Humana
- Aetna Medicaid
- Florida Community Care
For Medicaid clients, services generally require eligibility and authorization through the individual’s Medicaid plan. The number of hours and type of services available are determined by the plan and the client’s authorized benefits.
EasyLiving’s current website also identifies these six plans as our contracted Florida Medicaid plans.
Medicare Advantage
EasyLiving works with select Medicare Advantage plans that may offer home-based support as part of certain members’ benefits.
Our Medicare Advantage relationships include:
- Aetna
- Humana
- Longevity
It is important to understand that having one of these insurance plans does not automatically mean that ongoing home care is covered. Benefits vary significantly by plan, program, eligibility, and authorization.
Our team can help determine whether a particular benefit or authorization may apply.
Can Regular Medicare Pay for Home Care?
This is an important distinction.
Traditional Medicare generally does not pay for ongoing non-medical home care, such as long-term assistance with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, companionship, transportation, or supervision.
Medicare’s traditional home health benefit is primarily designed for qualifying skilled and medically necessary services under specific conditions.
That is why it is important to understand the difference between Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and other programs.
Sometimes the Answer Is More Than One Payer
Paying for long-term care does not always have to come from a single source.
A family might use an insurance or government benefit for the care it authorizes and privately pay for additional care that is needed beyond that authorization.
The important question is not simply, “Does insurance pay for home care?”
A better question is:
“What benefits does my loved one have, what will those benefits cover, and what plan can we create for everything else?”
That is where having an experienced team can make a significant difference.
Not Sure What You Qualify For? Start With EasyLiving.
You do not need to understand every insurance plan, government program, authorization, or long-term care policy before calling us.
Tell us about your situation and what help you need. Our team can help you identify the potential payment options, determine whether EasyLiving is contracted with your payer, and explain the next steps.
EasyLiving has been helping Tampa Bay families navigate aging since 1998, with Home Care and Care Management services throughout Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Polk Counties.
Payment options accepted by EasyLiving include private pay, all long-term care insurance policies, VA, PACE, Area Agency on Aging programs, multiple Florida Medicaid plans, and select Medicare Advantage plans.
The goal is simple: understand what resources are available and build a care plan that works for you and your family.
