Who Pays For In-Home Aged Care?

There are two main options for paying for in-home care. Read on about them here, so you can spend less time worrying about money and more time enjoying your retirement years in the comfort of your own home.

Whichever payment option you choose – private funding or government funding, there’s no fixed contracts to lock you in, so you can stop and start care as it suits you. We’re also committed to keeping our fees low and transparent, so you can be assured you’re getting good value for money.

Paying for your care should be easy. Absolute Care & Health provide in-home aged care plans tailored to your unique circumstances, giving you control over the extra help you receive

Privately funded: In-home care using your own money

Choosing private funding means you pay for in-home care directly, out of your own pocket.

Government funded: Home Care Packages and how they work

A government-funded Home Care Package is your second option. These packages are available to all senior Australians, with the level of funding you’re eligible to receive, based on the results of an at home assessment that will determine your general health and mobility. Funding levels are arranged from level 1 which covers the most basic needs, up to level 4 for more complex or ongoing needs. NDIS packages are also available for those with a physical, mental or intellectual disability.

Home Care Package costs explained

Funding level Care needs Approximate funding amount
Level 1 Basic care needs $10,588.65
Level 2 Low-level care needs $18,622.30
Level 3 Intermediate care needs $40,529.60
Level 4 High-level care needs $61,440.45

The government contribution changes on 1 July every year; these figures are up to date as at 1 July 2024.

Depending on the results of your assessment, it is worth remembering you may still need to contribute towards some of the following fees as part of your Home Care Package.

  • Basic Daily Fee: Fixed at 17.5% of the basic elderly pension ($10.10 per day), this fee is an amount the government expects you to contribute, on top of your total Home Care Package funding level.
  • Income Tested Fee: This fee only applies to self-funded retirees and part-pensioners (not those on a full pension) and is a contribution you’ll need to make to your total package amount.
  • Provider Fees: These additional fees may be charged by in-home care providers to cover administration costs and will come out of your total package amount. This is why comparing fees between providers is crucial. Absolute keep our fees low, so you have more money to spend on the things you enjoy.

Funding boost for Home Care Packages in 2018 federal budget

In the 2018 federal budget, the government announced $1.6 billion of new funding for Home Care Packages over the next four years, which means a total of 74,000 packages will be available to older Australians by 2022.

Packages at the higher funding levels 3 and 4 will be prioritised and as supply increases by 3,500 places each year, you’ll be able to receive in-home care much sooner. Those currently receiving funding below the level they’re eligible for due to a shortage of places will also benefit.

Get in touch about in-home aged care today

Keen to find out more? Let’s talk about the costs and benefits. We’d love to hear from you and our friendly team are always happy to help.

We have no lock-in contracts either, so you can stop or start your care as you wish. We’ll also sit down with you to create a personalised care plan, so you’ll only pay for what you need.

In many cases, you might also be eligible to receive some government funding to ‘top up’ your privately funded care. This is something you can get in touch with us to discuss.

Find out how we can help you with simple, low cost, high quality in-home care. Have a chat with our friendly team on 03 9827 8899.

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