Home Care Fees & Charges Explained
IT CAN BE COMPLEX. IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE CONFUSING.
Home care fees can seem confusing, but we can help you through the maze
When deciding how much you need to pay, there are three main considerations.
- Are you eligible for government-funding?
- If you are eligible, will you be fully or partially funded? (This will depend on your circumstances and your income.)
- Do you want to have additional services on top of the package you are eligible for?
There will, most likely, be a small daily fee on top of any government funding. It will not cost more than 17.5% of the basic single pension.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PACKAGE?
A government-funded package will cover your basic daily care needs.
In order to discover if you are eligible, you need to be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). This team of experienced care professionals will assess you based on your care needs and the kind of care you need to stay independent and living at home.
This assessment will determine if you are eligible for government-funding, and how much funding you are eligible for.
The assessment is free and strictly confidential. The information is only shared with your health care professional and the home care provider you choose.
The assessment determines how much funding you can have. This funding then goes towards the services you need. (The exact services are worked out between you and Regis, based on your assessment and your specific needs.)
Regis can help arrange this assessment for you, and guide you through the process. Or, you can contact the ACAT team yourself via the My Aged Care website, on 1800 200 422 or through www.myagedcare.gov.au
THE FUNDING COVERS YOUR BASIC COSTS
If you are eligible for a government funded home care package, you will be told which level of funding you can have. (For more information on what’s in the packages, please see Home Care Packages Explained.) Your package will cover the costs of your basic daily care to the level of funding you are eligible for.
YOU MAY NEED TO PAY AN INCOME TESTED FEE
Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to pay an Income Tested Fee. This Fee and will be determined by the government, based on your deemed income.
If you are deemed to be a full pensioner, you are exempt from paying the income tested fee.
To find out if you’ll need to pay an Income Tested Fee, you will need to submit a Centrelink Income Tested Assessment. Forms are available here
Home Care Fees Policy
The Policy supports the principle set by the Commonwealth Government to ensure fees in the Home Care Package and Commonwealth Home Support Programs are aligned with requirements, are fair, transparent, and consistently applied.