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Does North Dakota 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
North Dakota has several programs that pay for home health care. They can be used to pay professional caregivers from an agency or, in some cases, trained family members who act as primary caregivers. These programs can also cover the cost of other in-home supports, such as home modifications and medical equipment.
What North Dakota Programs Can Pay for In-Home Care?
Under North Dakota’s Medicaid program, qualified elderly and disabled people can get help paying for in-home health care. There are several programs available for people of varying levels of need. The most common is the Medicaid Waiver for Home and Community Based Services, which is for people 65 and up who need a nursing-home level of care.
Seniors who don’t qualify for this waiver but have trouble living independently due to disabilities or health conditions can apply for the Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED) Program. The SPED Program can also be used to pay for chore services, personal care and emergency response systems. An expanded version of this program, called Ex-SPED, pays for similar services but has different eligibility requirements, such as being eligible for both SSI and Medicaid.
Additionally, people living in the Bismarck, Dickinson, Minot and Fargo areas can apply for the Northland Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. There are more assistance programs available to veterans through the VA. These include the VA Aid and Attendance program and the Housebound Benefits initiative.
Where Can Seniors Get Help Applying for These Programs?
The wide range of assistance programs in North Dakota and their differing eligibility criteria can be difficult to navigate. Seniors looking for help with this can contact their local Aging and Disability Resource Center. These centers have case managers who can help seniors determine their care needs and submit applications to Medicare, SSI and a range of other assistance programs. People looking for information about veteran’s benefits can visit their nearest veteran center.