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Does Michigan Pay for Home Health Care?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Michigan pays for home health care via Medicare and Medicaid programs. Home health care service providers offer skilled nursing services or other basic medical care for homebound seniors, and may also provide help with the activities of daily living.
The average cost of home health care in Michigan is $29 per hour, which is slightly higher than the national average. Medicare typically covers no more than 28 hours of home health care per week. Seniors who require more support than this may benefit from moving into an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, depending on their care requirements.
Medicare Covers Only Medically Necessary Care
To qualify for help with the cost of home health care via Medicare, seniors must be classed as homebound and have been assessed as requiring medical care services in the home. Medicare covers physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as skilled nursing care services. Help with the activities of daily living is not covered.
Medicaid Waivers May Cover Personal Care Services
Seniors who require help with personal care services, such as dressing, bathing, feeding or other day-to-day tasks may be eligible for help via the MI Choices Medicaid Waiver. This waiver is aimed at low-income seniors who would otherwise require a nursing-home level of care and gives seniors the freedom to choose their own care providers. They can hire home health care providers for all of their services, use separate providers for transportation and home-delivered meals or hire friends or loved ones to assist with their care.