How to Pay for In-Home Care (Without the Headache)

Figuring out in-home care for someone you love can feel pretty overwhelming—especially when you start looking at the price tag. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone, and there are likely more ways to cover the costs than you think.

At ComForCare, we talk with families every day who are trying to make sense of the senior care maze. Here is a straightforward breakdown of the most common ways to pay for care:

• • Private Pay (Out-of-Pocket)

    • • Using personal savings, pensions, or supplemental income is one of the most common ways families start out.
    • • It is also very normal for family members to pool resources and chip in together.

• • The GUIDE Program

    • • This is a Medicare-funded grant program designed specifically for folks living with dementia and their family caregivers.
    • • It covers coordinated support and respite care so unpaid family caregivers can take a much-needed break.

• • Medicaid Waivers

    • • If your loved one qualifies for Medicaid, care may be covered through attendant care or traumatic brain injury (TBI) waivers.
    • • This applies whether they fall under the under-60 Health & Wellness program or the over-60 Managed Care Organization (MCO) model.
    • • If you need Prior Authorization (PA) hours, we work with partner organizations so you can get those hours covered—often with the very same caregiver.

• • The CHOICE Program

    • • If your loved one doesn’t quite qualify for Medicaid but still can’t comfortably afford private care, Indiana’s CHOICE grant can bridge the gap.
    • • We provide care through this program regularly; you can contact CICOA directly at (317) 803-6131 to check eligibility.

• • Veterans Benefits

    • • Aid & Attendance Pension: Eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses can receive up to $2,874/month (2026 rate for veterans with dependents) to help cover daily care costs. We can help you check eligibility and apply for this often-overlooked benefit.
    • • VA Community Care Network (VACCN): We are an approved VACCN provider here in the greater Indianapolis area. If your loved one sees a VA doctor, talk with their VA social worker to see if they qualify for in-home care covered by the VA.  Or, we can help you walk through this.  Please call our office for assistance.

• • Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance

    • • If your loved one planned ahead with a long-term care policy, it can significantly offset the cost of home care.
    • • Send the policy our way and we’ll happily review it to confirm whether it covers ComForCare’s services.

• • Tapping Into Existing Assets

    • • Reverse Mortgages: For homeowners aged 62 or older living in their primary residence with good home equity, a reverse mortgage can free up funds for care. Be sure to sit down with a reputable reverse mortgage specialist to explore this route.
    • • Whole Life Insurance: If your loved one holds a whole life policy that has built up cash value, they may be able to take out a loan against it while keeping coverage active. A quick call with their insurance agent can clarify what options exist.

We’re Here to Help

Our goal is to take care of the logistics so you can simply focus on spending meaningful time together. Whether you live down the street or hundreds of miles away, we treat your family with the dignity, compassion, and respect they deserve.

Give us a call at (371) 664-5136 anytime to chat through your options and build a plan that works for your budget and your family.