There are valuable benefits to paying privately for home care

Private home care can improve your loved one's quality of life and help to maintain their independence
If a client is receiving care through Medicare but would like additional services, he/she can pay for private care, while still maintaining care that is reimbursed by Medicare. Additionally, Partners in Care can arrange for you to keep the same aide in the home when you use VNSNY for the Medicare portion of your services, and Partners in Care for private care. Finally, when using both VNSNY and Partners services together, your private care services are provided at a reduced rate
Paying for home care can be a less costly alternative to nursing home or assisted living placement
Some long term care insurance providers will cover private care services
The training and professionalism of your home health aide will be of the highest standards.
Private home health aides are specially trained to "fit" with your personality, personal care needs, and interests.

Medicare coverage of home care may be limited.

All four of the following criteria must be met before a patient can receive Medicare home health care:

A doctor must decide that care at home is necessary and make a plan of care that the staff of the home health care agency will carry out. The doctor will work with the home health care nurse to decide what kind of services are needed (including medical equipment and special foods), how often the services are needed, and what type of health care professional should provide these services. The plan may also include what the doctor expects from the treatment. The patient will receive home health care as long as he is eligible and as long as the doctor says he needs it.
The patient must need either intermittent (part-time) skilled nursing care (performed only by a registered nurse or registered practical nurse), or physical therapy, or speech language pathology services. There are limits on the number of hours per day and days per week the patient can receive skilled nursing care. The patient must be homebound. This means he/she is normally unable to leave home except for infrequent short visits or to get outside medical care.
The patient must be homebound. This means he/she is normally unable to leave home except for infrequent short visits or to get outside medical care.
The home health agency providing the care must be approved by the Medicare program.

How does private pay home care work?

In some cases, a patient's Medicare coverage may not pay for all of the home health care services you need. It could be that the person's benefits have been exhausted or it could be that the patients medical needs do not qualify them for covered home care services. Whatever the reason, many seniors and their families choose to pay for private home health care on an out-of-pocket or fee-for-service basis. So, if you have Medicare, but do not meet the above requirements, you can STILL get some assistance in the home by paying privately. By paying for your own private care, you enjoy greater flexibility in the type and amount of services you wish to order. Moreover, you can avoid the restrictions and limits of programs provided by the government and private insurers.

Call 1-888-GET-HELP or email us at PAR_Intake@vnsny.org for more information on Partners in Care homecare services and caregiving assistance.