Guide to home care funding and costs

My Aged Care (MAC) will arrange an assessment of you or your loved one’s needs, then refer you to an approved home care service provider of your choice. MAC effectively gives a grant to providers, which covers your required in-home care services up to the value of about $8,000 a year, depending on your circumstances.

CHSP services are not means-tested by the government but you are expected to make a small contribution (depending on your financial circumstances) towards the cost of the service, as outlined in the client contribution schedule. Financial assistance in the form of a monthly cap of client contributions may be available.

As the government covers most of the hourly rate of home care services under CHSP, we show only your out-of-pocket costs for each of our services in the client contribution schedule.

Home Care Package Level 1

Home Care Package 1 supports people with basic home care needs.

Approximate hours a week: 1-2*

Maximum funding available: $9,179.75 a year (single, full age pensioner)

Home Care Package Level 2

This package is for people with low-level care needs who prefer to live independently and need services to help them live well.

Approximate hours a week: 2-3*

Maximum funding available: $16,147.60 a year (single, full age pensioner)

Home Care Package Level 3

Home Care Package 3 supports people with intermediate care needs. It allows for situations that are more complicated than Level 2, moving into the realm of more complex and clinical care when needed.

Approximate hours a week: 5-7*

Maximum funding available: $35,138.55 a year (single, full age pensioner)

Home Care Package Level 4

This package provides for people with high-level care needs, who want to stay at home but need a comprehensive package of services tailored to their personal and medical needs. It allows for complex care in the home, including more clinical care such as nursing and allied health services.

Approximate hours a week: 8-10*

Maximum funding available: $53,268.10 a year (single, full age pensioner)

*This is a guide only. Be aware that hours can vary considerably depending on how you choose to spend your funds and on what services.

HCP funding is income-tested, which determines if the government will provide the full subsidy amount or reduce it for you to contribute the rest toward the cost of your services (the value of your family home is not included in the assessment). This contribution, if required, is called an Income-Tested Fee (ITF). Full Age Pensioners, for example, would usually not be required to pay an ITF; while for those who are assessed by Centrelink to pay an ITF, you can be asked to contribute up to $33.59 a day. The government covers the rest.

You also may have to pay a Basic Daily Fee (BDF), which will add dollars to the subsidy pool to spend. The amount varies depending on which level of Home Care Package you receive, but can be reduced to the amount you can afford to pay. It is currently $10.49 (Level 1), $11.09 (Level 2), $11.40 (Level 3), or $11.71 (Level 4). BlueCare will not be charging the Basic Daily Fee.

Once you have been assigned an HCP it is up to you how to spend it. You get to choose a provider and choose which services would be best suited to your individual care needs. Find out more in our How to choose the right home care services provider guide.

Home care services are generally charged at an hourly rate but remember, these rates are paid from the total pool of money contained in your Home Care Package.

Other charges paid by your HCP include:

• Care management (case management)
• Package management (administration)

Please complete the form below by providing your suburb, to view our pricing schedule.

Privately funded home care services are not subsidised by the government.

You will need to pay the full cost of the home care service.

View our fee-for-service rates here, or call us on 1300 258 322 to discuss your needs and costs