It is essential to understand the costs of your home care package before you choose your home care provider, so that you can make the right decision regarding your support and care management needs.
When you receive a home care package, you have a budget to pay for the supports and services you need. Your budget depends on the level of care you need, which is determined by your home care package level.
What are the different levels of Home Care Packages?
Home Care Packages in Australia are structured into four levels of funding, each designed to meet varying degrees of care needs for older adults wishing to stay at home.
- Level 1 provides basic care and support, suitable for those with low-level needs, such as assistance with daily tasks and social support.
- Level 2 offers a moderate level of care, covering more frequent personal care and home maintenance.
- Level 3 is for individuals with intermediate care needs, including more intensive support like nursing services and allied health.
- Finally, Level 4 delivers the highest level of care, ideal for those with complex and high-level needs, ensuring comprehensive support and specialised services.
Each level corresponds to an increased amount of funding, allowing for a tailored approach to meet the diverse needs of older adults, promoting their independence and quality of life at home.
The government reviews funding annually to ensure it remains aligned with the cost of delivering quality care and the needs of the aging population. Each year, the government assesses various factors such as inflation, changes in the cost of living, and feedback from care providers and recipients.
What makes up your Home Care Package budget?
Your home care package budget is comprised of several elements:
- The Australian Government’s contribution – this can also include supplements (see section below) for specific care needs for eligible recipients
- Basic daily fees
- Income-tested care fees – people who earn income over a certain amount are required to pay income-tested care fees
- Sums for additional care and services – these are payable by the individual if they require additional services that the package funding would not otherwise cover, and are sometimes referred to as personal contributions
Together, these funds cover your support services and the fees charged from your provider to organise and manage your package.
Each home care package provider charges a different amount for its services. To get the most out of your funding, you should compare home care providers and consider:
- services provided
- care management fees; and
- package management fees
Click HERE to see HomeMade’s pricing.
What are funding supplements?
Depending on the type and extent of care you require, the government may provide further funding supplements for particular services, such as the following:
- Viability supplement – If you live in a rural or remote area.
- Enteral feeding supplement – If you depend on on-going enteral feeding
- Dementia and cognition supplement – This is for people who experience moderate to severe cognitive impairment
- Veterans’ supplement – Applicable for veterans who experience cognitive issues related to their military service
- Oxygen supplement – If you have an ongoing medical condition that requires oxygen.
What do I have to pay towards the cost of my Home Care Package?
Home care package pricing is different for every person, and only some have to pay all of the fees outlined below. Your financial situation and the home care provider you choose should also be taken into consideration.
Home care costs and fees are therefore customised to each individual. This is based not only on your care plan and care level needs, but other factors as detailed below.
1. Basic daily fee
This per day fee – payable by you – gets added to the Government subsidy to boost the funds available in your Home Care Package budget. Not all home care package providers will ask you to pay the basic daily fee, at HomeMade we don’t require you to pay this fee. It’s important that when deciding on a provider, you are satisfied with whether you pay or don’t pay the basic daily fee.
2.Income-tested care fee
An income assessment will be carried out on your financial situation to determine whether, and how much, you will be required to contribute towards your care.
Full pensioners and people with an income up a specific level do not pay an income-tested care fee.
The amount you may need to contribute is determined on an individual basis and also takes into account whether you are single or living with your partner. The amounts are indexed each year in March and September.
Services Australia calculates your income tested care fee. This fee will reduce the subsidy the government contributes towards your Home Care Package.
Upgrading Your Home Care Package:
Upgrading your Home Care Package involves transitioning to a higher level of care to meet your evolving needs as they become more complex over time.
If your current package level no longer adequately supports your daily activities or health requirements, you can request a reassessment. This reassessment will determine if a higher level of care is necessary. Once approved for an upgrade, you will be placed on a national priority system to await the availability of a higher-level package.
During this waiting period, your current level of funding continues to provide support. Upgrading your package ensures you receive the appropriate services and care, such as increased personal care, nursing, or allied health services, enabling you to maintain your quality of life and independence at home.
Why Self-Management?
Self-managing your home care package puts you in control of the services you receive, who provides them, and when.
You can also negotiate how much you pay independent support workers and source your own Service providers.
Support workers on our Partner site Mable, offer a range of services, from social support and personal care to transport support and nursing care.
To find out more about the Home Care Package Fees refer to My Aged Care website for more information.
