Simply, home care is medical care at home, rather than in a hospital of doctor's office. Home care offers older Australians an alternative to residential aged care, but it also lets people recover from hospital treatments in their own home.
Home care programs offer a wide range of services and can be tailored to cover individual needs. Some of the services provided include:
Medicare doesn't directly cover home care, but the Australian government funds it through two programs, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the Home Care Packages Program. There's also the NDIS, if you qualify.
This entry-level home support program is designed to provide assistance with daily tasks to help senior Australians continue living at home. Services provided include:
However, if you receive services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme you will be asked to contribute towards the cost of those services.
The Home Care Packages Program is designed to help people with more complex care needs to retain their independence. There are four levels of home care packages available to suit different care needs, and services provided include:
The National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS, is made to support people aged 7 and up with a disability. There are a lot of support options available if you're eligible for the NDIS, including home care when it's required. Note that if you're over 65 years old, you'll need to have been on the NDIS before you turned 65 to be eligible.
In addition to the government subsidies that help cover the cost of home care services, you may also be able to access cover from your private health fund. What's available differs based on
Some insurance funds offer extras benefits that can be taken at home. This can vary wildly, as it's not typically covered under the core list of extras treatments that the government publishes data on each month. Your best bet for finding out more is to speak to your current extras fund, or to compare new funds online.
Why compare health insurance with Finder?
We don't ask for your phone or email to see prices.
With 1 click, you can open your results to nearly every fund in Australia.
You pay the same price as going direct – we charge no fees.
Why compare with us
Our customers trust us
Find out how to claim vasectomies and tubal ligation with Medicare or private health funds, and the things you should know before going in.
Dialysis treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is covered by Medicare and private health insurance, but which offers the best cover?
Find out how much a colonoscopy costs in Australia and how you can avoid paying heaps.
Want to get health cover for grommets? Find out how private health insurance and Medicare costs compare and what you'll be covered for. Choose the option that suits you best.
What is covered by the third-highest tier of hospital insurance policies?
You've lost a lot of weight. Lose the extra skin with excess skin removal and reveal the shape you've built underneath.
Palliative care is the practice of easing the pain of a patient with a terminal illness and making them as comfortable as possible before death.
Find the answers to the most common questions about health cover excesses in this helpful guide.
Find out how private and public hospitals compare in terms of wait times and safety. Can private health insurance get you treatment where public hospitals can't?