There are various ways to pay for caregivers. Health insurance does not cover these services because caregivers do not provide medical treatment. Therefore, most people pay for this private service out of pocket. The person being cared for or a family member pays caregivers. A caregiver can be an individual or a caregiver that works for an agency.
Qualifiers to get a caregiver
Generally speaking, people hire a caregiver when they need help with their Activities of Daily Living (also known as ADLs), which include the following:
- Bathing or showering
- Dressing
- Getting in and out of bed or a chair
- Walking
- Using the toilet
- Eating (making the food or helping the person eat)
Other options to pay for caregivers
To help cut down on out-of-pocket costs, some people preplan and purchase a Long Term Care (LTC) policy. Most Long Term Care policies have a waiting period (meaning the number of days a person has to pay before the policy pays out). LTC policies are limited based on a daily rate or a total maximum policy payout. Contact a Health/Life Insurance agent/broker to learn more about these policies. If you need help finding an agent/broker, then let STAGES help you.
There are programs available through the Federal Government to pay for caregivers.
State of California has a few programs for qualifying individuals – In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is available for low-income people. IHSS may pay for the following:
- Housecleaning
- Meal preparation
- Laundry
- Grocery shopping
- Personal care services (such as bowel and bladder care, bathing, grooming, and paramedical services)
- Accompaniment to medical appointments
- Protective supervision for the mentally impaired
California also has an HCBA Waiver Program that provides care management services to persons at risk for nursing home or institutional placement. The team consists of a nurse and a social worker.
Finally, California has the Paid Family Leave Act. The program is available for people who have paid into the State Disability Insurance program and need time off from work to take care of a family member. There are requirements to qualify for this program.
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