Changing Home Care Package Providers

Choose the care provider you trust

Switching providers is easy

Changing your Home Care Package provider is easy and we can help you with the whole process if you’d like.

If you want to change to Absolute Care & Health as your care provider, we can help you with every step of the process. Here’s what we do to help:

Support you in your conversations with your current provider and make sure you understand your Home Care Agreement.

Liaise with your current provider on your behalf, with your permission.

Feeling comfortable and confident with your care provider is essential for your peace of mind and wellbeing. We do everything we can to do that for you.

How to switch your Home Care Package in 6 steps?

Switching Home Care Package provider is easier than you might think and there are many benefits that could be realised. We’re here to make things simple for you with our 6 steps to switching guide:

1. Choose your new provider

Some care providers have minimum notice periods or exit fees when you change providers. Check your Home Care Agreement or ask your current provider to find out if these apply to you.

2. Write to your existing provider and tell them you want to switch

Write to your current provider and tell them that you are moving your Home Care Package and giving them notice as specified in your existing Home Care Agreement.

3. Ask your provider to confirm in writing the last date they will provide your care

Ask your current provider to confirm in writing the last date that they will provide your care – this is known as your cessation date.

4. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422

Call My Aged Care to tell them you’re switching your Home Care Package to a new provider. Ask for your new Unique Referral Code.

5. Give your new provider your Unique Referral Code

Give your new provider your Unique Referral Code so they can access your My Aged Care records and register as your new care provider.

6. Create a new Care Plan and Agreement with your new provider

Any unspent funds from your package will be transferred to your new provider.

Myths and misunderstandings

If I change to another provider, my current provider will keep all the Home Care Package money I have saved up so far

They are not allowed to do this. The Government has ruled that any unspent Home Care package funds will move with you. The only money your current provider can keep is the cost of any services or products they have already provided to you and any Exit Fee that is specified in your Home Care Agreement with them.

I could lose my Home Care Package altogether if I change to another provider

Your Home Care Package cannot be taken away from you because you switch providers. It will remain with you no matter how many times you change providers. However, you must start with your new provider within 56 days of finishing your care with your old provider. If you need longer to decide on a new provider, you can ask for an extra 28 days.

I will have to give my current provider six months’ notice if I want to change providers

Your Home Care Agreement with your current provider will specify how much notice you must give them. You are not obliged to give any more notice than is specified here. If you have a long notice period, they may agree to agree to shorten it if you ask.

If I give my current provider notice, they will stop providing my care during the notice period

They are not allowed to stop care. Your care provider has a responsibility to provide your care up until the end of your notice period.

A new provider might promise less fees and more hours of care, but once I move my package to them, they will charge more in the end

Your new provider must clearly outline all their fees in your Home Care Agreement and must develop with you a written Care Plan which outlines the care they will provide against your Home Care package budget. They cannot charge anything other than what is outlined in these documents without your prior permission. If there is anything you are not happy with in these documents, ask them to change it.

Find out more about Home Care Packages

For more information about how we do things, download our information pack. It has everything you need to know about who we are and what we do.

What our clients say about us

“Our Case Manager is an EXCELLENT case manager and has been incredibly accommodating to my parents’ needs; I cannot express the relief this gives me as their only child, carer and support.”

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