How to Pay for Home Care in Pennsylvania
How to Pay for Home Care in Pennsylvania
Short answer: Paying for home care in Pennsylvania depends on your loved one’s needs, income, and veteran status. Options include the Medicaid Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver, Medicare home health, VA programs, long-term care insurance, and private pay.
- Medicaid CHC pays for non-medical personal assistance services for eligible adults.
- Family members can get paid to provide care under the CHC waiver, with some exceptions.
- Veterans may qualify for VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care or Aid & Attendance pension.
- Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing and therapy, but not 24-hour personal care.
- Private pay costs in Pennsylvania average $34 per hour for a non-medical caregiver.
Payer Map for Home Care in Pennsylvania
Understanding who pays for care begins with knowing what programs exist. This table outlines the main options for funding home care in Pennsylvania.
| Payer | Covers | Who qualifies | How to apply | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicaid CHC Waiver | Personal Assistance Services | Adults 21+ meeting financial and functional rules | Call IEB 1-877-550-4227 | Medicaid CHC |
| Medicare Home Health | Part-time skilled nursing, PT, OT | Homebound people needing skilled care | Doctor prescription | Medicare home health |
| VA Benefits | Home aides, Veteran-Directed Care, pension | Enrolled veterans meeting clinical criteria | VA social worker | VA Benefits |
| LTC Insurance | Home care, facilities, asset protection (Partnership) | Policyholders | Contact insurer | LTC Insurance |
| PA Caregiver Support Program | Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses (up to $600/mo) | Unpaid caregivers | Local AAA (PCA in Philadelphia) | PA Caregiver Support Program |
| LIFE Program | All-inclusive medical and social services | Adults 55+, NFCE, financially eligible | IEB 1-877-550-4227 (finds the LIFE provider for your address) | LIFE Program |
| Private Pay | Any non-medical care | Anyone | Hire an agency | Private Pay |
Medicaid Community HealthChoices (CHC): Is Your Loved One Eligible?
Community HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed care program for adults 21 and older who need long-term services and supports. To get waiver services like Personal Assistance Services, your loved one must apply and meet both functional and financial rules.
Functional eligibility requires an assessor to determine your loved one is Nursing Facility Clinically Eligible (NFCE). Financial eligibility requires an income limit of 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, which is $2,982 per month in 2026. For an unmarried applicant, the resource limit is $8,000.
If approved, the CHC service coordinator creates a person-centered service plan that sets the hours of care. You can check Medicaid eligibility rules to see if your loved one might qualify.
Looking for a home care agency that accepts Medicaid CHC? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or contact us online and choose “I am a client” then “I need services”.
Getting Paid as a Family Caregiver
Family members can be paid to provide Personal Assistance Services through the CHC waiver. However, the waiver will not pay for services furnished by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or Power of Attorney (POA).
If you meet the requirements, you can work through a licensed agency like New Century Home Care or through the participant-directed Services My Way option. Learn more about how to get paid to care for a family member.
Veterans Benefits for Home Care
Veterans have several options to help cover care at home. The VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care program provides trained aides to help with daily activities and personal care. These aides are supervised by a registered nurse and are available to enrolled veterans who meet clinical criteria.
Another option is VA Veteran-Directed Care, which gives veterans a service budget to hire their own workers. This can include hiring a family member or neighbor. You must ask a VA social worker if this is offered locally.
The VA also offers a pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A) for those who need help with daily activities. Effective December 1, 2025, the Maximum Annual Pension Rate for a veteran with no dependents needing A&A is $29,093. The MAPR is a ceiling: the pension equals the MAPR minus countable income.
Private Pay and What It Costs
If your loved one does not qualify for Medicaid or VA benefits, you may need to cover the cost of home care out of pocket. According to the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey, the Pennsylvania statewide median cost for a non-medical caregiver is $34 per hour.
Free Help Understanding Benefits in Philadelphia
If you need help understanding these benefits, free resources are available in Pennsylvania. The PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources is a statewide entry point available at 1-800-753-8827.
In Philadelphia, you can call the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) Helpline at 215-765-9040. If you receive a Medicaid eligibility denial, you can contact the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 for free legal help with Office of Long Term Living waivers.
New Century Home Care is a licensed agency serving Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties. Our office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian. Call 215-974-0000 or fill out our form by selecting “I am a client” and “I need services”.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pennsylvania pay family caregivers?
Yes, under the Medicaid Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver, family members can get paid to provide Personal Assistance Services. However, the waiver will not pay a spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or Power of Attorney to provide this care.
Where do seniors go if they can’t afford assisted living?
Seniors who cannot afford assisted living may qualify for the Medicaid CHC waiver. This program pays for Personal Assistance Services at home, allowing people to age in place. If home care is not enough, CHC also covers nursing facility care for eligible individuals.
What is CHC in PA?
Community HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed care program for adults 21 and older who have both Medicare and Medicaid, or who need long-term services and supports like in-home personal care.
What does the PA Department of Aging do for seniors?
The PA Department of Aging oversees programs delivered by local Area Agencies on Aging, such as the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). These local agencies conduct functional eligibility assessments for Medicaid waivers and run the PA Caregiver Support Program, which reimburses unpaid caregivers for out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Medicaid CHC (Keystone First), VA programs and private pay. We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.
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