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How Do You Find Home Health Care for a Person on Medicaid?
Date Updated: January 10, 2025
Written by:
Leigh Morgan has more than 15 years of experience writing about senior care. She’s the author of “Financial Safety for Seniors: 77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse” and has written hundreds of articles about Medicare, Medicaid, assisted living communities, nursing homes and memory care. Morgan developed an interest in senior care while recruiting home health nurses, certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians for a large health care system.
Reviewed by:
Kristi Bickmann, a licensed Long-Term Care Specialist, represents top-rated "Traditional" & "Hybrid" LTC companies. Serving associations such as the American Nurses Association, she's a licensed insurance agent in 27 states. Specializing in insurance products for seniors, Kristi helps hundreds of families every year protect assets, retirement, and loved ones. She understands aging concerns firsthand, having assisted her own parents. Kristi ensures accuracy on topics about senior long-term care and its consequences.
You find home health care for a person on Medicaid by reviewing the Medicaid guidelines in your state, applying for waiver programs as necessary and contacting home health agencies to determine if they accept Medicaid coverage. Medicaid covers eligible individuals with limited financial resources.
What Is Home Health Care?
Home health care refers to services provided by nurses, physical therapists and other licensed professionals in a patient's home instead of in a hospital or a skilled nursing facility. Receiving care at home helps older adults maintain their independence.
Home health care also costs less than nursing home care, making it more accessible to seniors on fixed incomes. In 2024, home health services cost a median of $6,292 per month, compared to $8,669 for a semi-private room in a nursing home. Common home health services include wound care, nutrition therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and patient education.
How to Find Home Health Care
Every state has its own Medicaid program, so the amount of coverage available for home health care depends on where a beneficiary lives. To find care for someone on Medicaid, start by reviewing the guidelines in your state. Some states require beneficiaries to enroll in managed care plans, while others have waiver programs available to help individuals who need long-term services and support.
Next, apply for relevant waiver programs. Follow the application instructions carefully to avoid a denial due to missing or incomplete information. Finally, contact local home health agencies to determine which ones accept Medicaid. Once you have a list of suitable options, use this home health interview checklist to determine which one is the best fit for your loved one's needs. Be sure to ask questions about licensing, staff training, fees and payment methods before you commit to an agency.