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How Much Does Full-Time Home Health Care Cost?
Date Updated: December 8, 2024
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Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.
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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.
Full-time home health care costs $6,292 per month in the United States, as provided by Genworth’s 2024 Cost of Care Survey. However, various factors affect how much an individual actually pays for medical and therapeutic care in their home. Depending on their needs, seniors may find other care types more appropriate.
Aspects Affecting Home Health Care Fees
Location plays a significant role in how much home health care costs across the nation. The U.S. median monthly rate runs $6,292 monthly, based on 44 hours of weekly care. However, fees vary substantially among states. For example, home health care agencies typically charge $7,627 monthly in New Hampshire and Washington, $6,673 per month in Utah and Indiana, $6,101 in North Dakota and $5,720 in Florida. Furthermore, prices differ among cities.
Costs vary according to how many care hours a recipient needs. Individuals requiring around-the-clock home health care — 168 hours weekly — can expect to pay about $24,024 monthly, based on the nationwide median. However, in such situations, nursing home care generally provides a more suitable option, practically and financially. Other factors that affect home health care prices include which professionals deliver services and the exact types of care needed.
Paying for Home Health Care
Following an illness, injury or surgical procedure, doctors often recommend home health care services for seniors to recover in the comfort of their own homes. Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B covers home health services for those who require intermittent skilled care and fulfill homebound criteria. Additionally, Medicaid and VA benefits may cover the entire service costs for eligible individuals. If seniors don’t qualify for public funding, they must cover all expenses themselves.
Private payment methods include using pensions, savings and financial assistance from family. Homeowners might opt for a reverse mortgage, while individuals with existing insurance policies could qualify for benefits through their long-term care insurance provider. However, older individuals who need day-to-day assistance at home but don’t require medical or therapeutic care often find non medical in-home care more affordable.