The Difference between Home Health Care and Home Care and Typical Payment Sources for Both
Contact Information:
arthur moseley
813-373-0272
Full Description:
When talking to prospective clients (and even healthcare professionals in the field) we often receive questions concerning what services medical insurance normally pays for and which ones are out of pocket. It really boils down to the difference between Home Health Services and Home Care. Typical Home Health Services are tied to a medical procedure (e.g. an operation) and are an integral part of the recovery process. They are usually limited in scope and time (physical therapy a couple times a week, one hour bath visits two- three times a week, etc. all for a finite period - say for two-six weeks,) and are usually covered by Medicare and other medical insurance programs. Home Care is more associated with patients/clients that need on going support at home (see below*) either after Home Health is gone or without an associated hospital stay. Because it is not tied to a specific medical procedure and because it is of an on going nature, Home Care is pretty much an out of pocket private pay expense. Often because it is not being reimbursed clients think they cannot afford the service. Following are some funding sources to you may want to consider when you find yourself in need of Home Care services:
Reverse Mortgages
· A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of the equity in his or her home into cash. The equity can be paid to the homeowner.
· Unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence.
· Funds are available regardless of the homeowners current income
· The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of the home or FHA's mortgage limits for the geographic area, whichever is less.
· There are many excellent webpages that cover this topic. One good general page is http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfm
Home Equity Lines of Credit
· Pro- closing costs are low , you only draw down on the line as funds are needed and you only pay interest on what you borrow
· Con- unlike the Reverse Mortgage, you have to actively manage this credit facility monthly.
Veterans Aid and Attendance
· Who can qualify: Veterans or the surviving spouses of veterans that were in the military during specific wartime periods who require regular assistance with personal care
· The household must have less than $80,000 in assets (not including their home) and less than $1675 in monthly income (though many non reimbursable expenses can be deducted from income to get one below this hurdle—including current or projected non medical Home Care costs).
· Current maximum monthly payments are: $1519 to a veteran, $976 to a surviving spouse, or $1801 per couple.
Hillsborough County/State of Florida
· There are a number of programs that are state/county funded/administered. Most have waiting lists that are 18 months or more.
· Typically these use Medicaid rules to qualify candidates for service
· Most of the programs provide limited assistance (3 days a week for 2-4 hours of personal care)
· For details, call Community Care for the Elderly 813-272-5242 or the Elder Helpline 813-273-3779 or the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Information Line at 813-272-5900
Private Pay Long Term Care Insurance
This product helps pay for nursing home, assisted living and home care expenses but it needs to be purchased before a need for services occurs.
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* Home Care includes: companionship, homemaking and personal care (assistance with bathing, toileting, dressing, etc.)
Typical users of Home Care include people who:
· Need help with daily living tasks (bathing, toileting, etc.)
· Are alone or may be at risk
· Have families living far away
· Are disabled or in a wheelchair
· Need help during a facility stay
· Are recovering after hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility discharge
