Private pay
Most families start here. You choose the hours and the kind of help, and pay directly. You can start small and add support as things change, and there is never a long-term contract.
Paying for care
Clear answers on how to pay for home care
Cost shouldn't keep your family from getting the help it needs. Private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicare Advantage and VA benefits are all options, and our local team can help you figure out which ones apply. We serve families across Vancouver and Clark County, always with no long-term contracts.
Determining home care costs
What home care costs, and how to plan for it
In-home care typically costs less than adult day care, assisted living or a skilled nursing facility, and your loved one gets to stay at home. The actual number depends on how many hours of care are needed each week, so start by getting a clear picture of that need. In a free, no-obligation in-home assessment, a SYNERGY HomeCare professional learns what your loved one needs and puts together a plan, so you know the cost before services begin. Nationally, home care runs a median of about $35 an hour, and Washington tends to price above that, with statewide averages closer to $42 an hour.
Four paths to cover the cost of care
Most families pay privately, but you may be entitled to benefits that ease the cost. We will walk you through what applies to your situation, and we'll talk through what's fair together at your free consultation.
Long-term care insurance
If you or your loved one holds a long-term care policy, it often reimburses in-home care for help with daily activities. We document the care hours and services your policy needs to pay out.
Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare does not cover non-medical home care, but some Medicare Advantage plans include an in-home support benefit. We will help you check your plan and what it covers.
VA benefits for Veterans
Eligible Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for programs like Aid & Attendance or the VA Homemaker / Home Health Aide benefit. We can help you find out what applies and help with the paperwork.
Official guidance: Medicare.gov, VA Aid & Attendance, and Medicaid long-term services & supports. Coverage depends on your plan and eligibility.
Putting your policy to work at home
Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is built to cover what Medicare and traditional health insurance leave out: the everyday help people may need later in life. When someone is living with a chronic condition, a disability or a diagnosis like Alzheimer's, most policies reimburse care given in their own home.
Under most policies, benefits begin when a person needs help with at least two of the six "activities of daily living" (ADLs), or is living with a cognitive impairment such as dementia. We make those benefits easier to use by documenting the care hours and services your policy asks for.
Ask about your policyThe six activities of daily living
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Eating
- Toileting
- Transferring
- Incontinence care
Need help with two or more? Your policy may already cover in-home support. We will help you read the details and put it to use.
When a plan may cover home care
Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C) lets recipients receive their Original Medicare coverage through a private insurer of their choice. Original Medicare does not pay for non-medical home care, but some Medicare Advantage plans do, usually under a benefit called in-home support.
Because every plan is different, the coverage varies, and in-home support is often a supplemental benefit you opt into. If you are shopping for a plan, ask whether it includes in-home support for companionship, homemaker services and personal care, and we can help you weigh what fits.
Talk through your optionsThe four parts of Medicare
- Part A Hospital insurance
- Part B Medical insurance
- Part C Medicare Advantage: bundles A, B and usually D
- Part D Prescription drug coverage
Already enrolled? Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about an "in-home support" benefit, then call us, and we will help from there.
When Medicaid and the COPES waiver can help
Washington's Medicaid program can also help cover ongoing, non-medical home care, something Medicare generally does not, through a state waiver called COPES (the Community Options Program Entry System). Eligibility depends on both your finances and how much daily help is needed, and applying starts with your local DSHS Home and Community Services office, which reviews your finances and completes a personal care needs assessment to determine what your family qualifies for.
Questions families ask about paying for care
Still weighing your options? Call any time. A real person from our Vancouver office will help you think it through.
What determines the cost of home care?
Mostly the number of hours and the level of help needed: a few hours a week costs far less than daily or around-the-clock care. Local wage standards and any specialized training also factor in. After a free, no-obligation in-home assessment, we map out the hours your loved one needs so you know the cost before care begins.
Does Medicare or regular health insurance cover in-home care?
Medicare may pay for short-term, skilled home health after a hospital stay, but it generally does not cover non-medical help with bathing, dressing or companionship, and standard health insurance works much the same way. Long-term care insurance and certain Medicare Advantage plans are the more common ways to offset those day-to-day costs, and we are glad to help you sort through them.
Can long-term care insurance pay for home care?
Often, yes. Most policies reimburse in-home care for help with activities of daily living once a waiting period is met. Every policy differs, so we help families read the fine print and provide the documentation of care hours and services needed to activate the benefit.
Are there benefits for Veterans that help pay for home care?
Yes. Eligible Veterans, and in some cases their spouses, may access VA programs such as the Aid & Attendance pension or the Homemaker / Home Health Aide benefit. If your loved one served, we will help you understand what applies and coordinate the paperwork.
Do you require a long-term contract?
No. You can start with a few hours, add support when you need it and change the schedule any time.
Let's find the home care solution that's right for your family.
Call today for a free, no-obligation in-home consultation.