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Who Qualifies for Home Health Care Financial Assistance in Illinois?
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
Medicare Home Health Care Benefits and Eligibility Requirements
Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B cover eligible home health services such as, intermittent skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services (physical, occupational and speech therapies), medical social services, part-time home health aide care (other skilled services, including nursing and/or therapy, must also be provided concurrently), durable medical equipment and medical supplies for home use. Medicare does not cover around-the-clock home care, home-delivered meals, homemaker services not related to personalized care (shopping, cleaning, laundry) and custodial or personal care that helps with daily living activities (bathing, toileting, dressing), when this is the only type of care needed.
Home Services Program and How to Qualify
The Home Services Program (a Medicaid waiver) offers assistance to people with severe disabilities to help offset the cost of home health care. HSP services include a personal assistant, homemaker services, maintenance home health care, emergency response systems, home delivered meals, adult day care, assistive equipment, environmental modifications and respite care.To receive assistance, individuals must meet certain eligibility requirements. Applicants must be under the age of 60, have a serious disability, be at risk of nursing home placement, apply for Medicaid or already be Medicaid eligible, require in-home services equal to or less than nursing home costs, be a resident of Illinois with U.S. Citizenship, meet asset limit guidelines and meet the Determination of Need points requirement. Seniors at least 60 years old and above can contact the Illinois Department on Aging for more information.