Homepay care: Nanny Taxes, Household Employee Payroll

Опубликовано: March 25, 2023 в 11:35 pm

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Категории: Miscellaneous

Is It the Right Nanny Payroll Solution for You?

HomePay is an all-in-one nanny payroll and tax solution ideal for household employers wanting to fully outsource their nanny payroll duties. For more than 25 years, it has handled payroll processing and tax filing for nannies, senior caregivers, housekeepers, personal assistants, and other domestic workers. And to top it off, Care.com is its parent company, so you also get access to recruiting tools for hiring household employees.

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HomePay is one of our top-recommended nanny payroll services primarily because of its nanny-specific expertise and full-service pay processing features. Its reps manage the payroll process for you versus just giving you the tools and training to do it. If you’re a new household employer, the provider will even set up your tax accounts—making it easier for you to get started.

Although it’s less affordable than doing payroll yourself, using HomePay gives you access to payroll tax experts who stay abreast of changing regulations and can save you money in the long run—plus it has no registration and setup fees.

In short, HomePay is best for:

  • Families needing help hiring household employees: HomePay’s partnership with Care.com, a service many families use to find nannies and caregivers, provides you with tools to find and hire household employees. Combining it with HomePay’s nanny payroll services helps streamline processes since you don’t have to use separate solutions to hire and pay workers.
  • Household employers needing a hands-off nanny payroll solution: If you are always busy with work, HomePay can take care of your household employees’ payroll for you. It handles all aspects of payroll, tax, and basic HR with ease. In case you need expert advice, its team is available through live phone, email, and chat—plus, support is unlimited. They will even represent you when dealing with tax agencies.
  • Household employers wanting a mobile-friendly solution: Apart from email reminders about payroll and tax schedules, HomePay has a portal where you can manage payroll on mobile. You can even change the nanny’s hours and rates quickly from any device when using your HomePay account.

When HomePay Would Not Be a Good Fit

  • Employers needing payroll software with multiple integrations: HomePay has limited integration capabilities with other software. If you have existing third-party software you need to sync with your payroll system, we recommend Paychex, which integrates with accounting, time tracking, and other software.
  • Employers wanting to provide employee benefits to household staff: While HomePay has an insurance partner for workers’ compensation plans, it doesn’t have partner brokers for other benefits options you can offer to household employees. If providing health insurance is important to you, consider SurePayroll. It comes with full-service nanny payroll and access to benefits plans.

HomePay Overview

PROS CONS
No registration and setup fees More expensive than competitors
Experts on staff for advising on compliance issues Year-end tax preparation costs extra
Sets up federal and state tax accounts for new household employers No in-house printing of paper checks
Receives all state tax notices directly and provides support for tax audits Limited integrations

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HomePay Pricing

Since Our Last Update:

HomePay has changed its monthly fee from $59 to $75, although it still charges the same year-end tax report cost of $100.

HomePay’s payroll service costs $75 per month. This covers one employee and includes pay and tax processing, direct deposits, paid time off (PTO) tracking, and quarterly tax filing and remittance. However, preparation of year-end tax reports costs extra ($100).

The provider also offers a tax service guarantee, which covers all penalties if its representative makes a tax filing mistake. It even has a “happiness guarantee” for new clients, allowing you to request a refund if its nanny payroll solution doesn’t meet your expectations during your first six months.

HomePay Features

Since Our Last Update:

We go into more detail on HomePay’s payroll and tax filing tools, including the HR support that it offers.

Paying household employees can be challenging and stressful given the complexities of calculating salaries and handling nanny taxes. With HomePay, you’re assured that your nanny, caregiver, and other household workers are paid correctly and taxes are filed accurately and on time.

HomePay handles and automates payroll processing for any pay schedule. With its mobile-friendly online payroll manager solution, you can view your employees’ compensation details, modify work hours and gross wages, and preview paystubs. It also sends email notifications with reminders about upcoming payroll deadlines, including details about the gross and net salaries for the pay period and a link to your online HomePay account.

If you need assistance with payroll changes, you can contact its team of HR and payroll specialists for help. Its payroll rep will correct the payroll and even reconcile any differences in the next pay run. Once payroll has been approved and processed, HomePay pays your household employee via direct deposits. If you prefer to check payments, you have to manually prepare these because HomePay doesn’t have check printing capabilities.


With HomePay, you don’t have to worry about managing payroll taxes for your nanny and household staff. It automatically calculates, withholds, remits, and files quarterly state and federal payroll taxes. For an extra $100 fee, it also prepares year-end tax reports, including Schedule H, 1040, W-2, and W-3 forms.

Aside from payroll tax filings, HomePay helps set up your state and federal tax accounts if you’re a new household employer. It even manages your tax correspondence and official notices. HomePay also provides support in case you get audited by the IRS.


Managing paper forms to ensure that everything is complete and readily available can be a nightmare. HomePay takes the stress out of handling payroll and tax-related documents as it provides online access to paystubs and tax records. It also generates and sends tax returns to your HomePay account, so you can view these before state and federal tax filing deadlines. Best of all, you get lifetime access to your online tax forms and pay records.


HomePay handles online onboarding for your new employees and files new hire reports for you. It also monitors your staff’s PTO accruals, including reimbursements. Similar to your online HomePay account, your employees can access all payroll information, like pay stubs and other payroll data, via a self-service portal.


HomePay’s partnership with Care. com allows you to access online recruiting tools. While Care.com doesn’t employ the workers directly, it has an extensive network to help you find and hire nannies, senior caregivers, and other household staff that you need.


HomePay has a team of tax and labor law experts you can consult with (via phone) five days a week—from Mondays to Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. Apart from phone support, you also get unlimited assistance via chat and email.


HomePay Ease of Use

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Email reminders for payroll deadlines
  • Online access to payroll and tax forms
  • Advance notification of quarterly payments
  • Online guides and resources (tax calculator and state tax requirements)
  • Tax setup and audit support
  • Reliable HR and payroll experts

HomePay is very easy to set up and use, and its self-service portal is easy to navigate for both employers and employees. HR and payroll experts are just a phone call away, which brings comfort to household employers who do not know much about tax and labor laws. Its advanced notifications for payroll and quarterly tax payments also make it easier for users to comply earlier than the deadlines.

What Users Think About HomePay

There aren’t a lot of up-to-date HomePay reviews online as of this writing. Customers who left feedback on its Facebook page said they like its efficient payroll services and helpful support team. However, a few said that it can be a bit pricey.

Top HomePay Alternatives

Visit SurePayroll

Visit Paychex

Visit NannyChex

Best for: Employers looking for affordable nanny payroll and tax services

Best for: Household employers looking for full-service nanny payroll and benefits

Best for: Employers hiring temporary household workers

Recurring fees: $49. 99 per month

Recurring fees: $35 per month

Recurring fees: $6.25 per paycheck for weekly payroll

Payroll tax filing fees:

None

Payroll tax filing fees:

Quarterly and year-end tax filings cost extra; call Paychex for quote

Payroll tax filing fees:

$80 for quarterly taxes and $150 for year-end taxes

Read our SurePayroll Review

Read our Paychex Review

Read our NannyChex Review

If you’ve narrowed your list down to a few providers but still need help deciding which the best payroll software for you is, follow our step-by-step guide on how to choose the right payroll solution.

HomePay is a complete payroll, tax, and HR tool that caters specifically to household employers. Although pricier than some payroll providers, it’s a fairly reasonably priced solution that takes the burden of processing payroll off the employer. Apart from tax payment and filing services, it coordinates with state and federal agencies and manages correspondences on your behalf. If you want a fully outsourced nanny payroll software, HomePay is a good option. Sign up for an online account today.

Visit HomePay

Worker’s Compensation with HomeStaff | Home

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Worker’s Compensation with HomeStaff | Homeoisuser2022-06-23T19:41:19+00:00

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE FOR HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYERS

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WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE FOR HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYERS

Get Started

Nanny
  • Pricing is based on the state you live in and how many nannies you have (except in Oregon – pricing is based on how much you pay your nanny)
  • One policy covers the entire house (you can change nannies throughout the year and you do not need to buy a new one)

Learn More

Nanny
  • Pricing is based on the state you live in and how many nannies you have (except in Oregon – pricing is based on how much you pay your nanny)
  • One policy covers the entire house (you can change nannies throughout the year and you do not need to buy a new one)

Learn More

Senior Caregiver
  • Pricing is based on the state you live in and how much you pay your senior caregiver(s) (except in California – pricing is based on how many senior caregivers you have)
  • One policy covers the entire house (you can change senior cargivers throughout the year and you do not need to buy a new one)

Learn More

Housekeeper / Domestic Employee
  • Pricing is based on the state you live in and how many housekeepers you have (except in Oregon – pricing is based on how much you pay your housekeeper)
  • One policy covers the entire house (you can change housekeepers throughout the year and you do not need to buy a new one)

Learn More

Welcome to

HomeStaff

Protect

The team at All Risks, Ltd. is proud to support HomeStaff Protect, a specialized workers’ compensation program designed to meet the unique needs of families with nannies. We have collaborated with the Care.com HomePay experts and an A- rated insurance carrier to provide this vital protection to domestic employers.

Learn More

I found the instant quote portal functionality on https://homepaywc.com/ easy to use. I appreciated being able to get an estimate and get the policy creation process started.

It was such a relief to get the coverage we needed for our new household employee. Your response time to my inquiry was under 24 hours! Other companies I spoke to have still not gotten back to me with a quote or just told me they couldn’t help. Your assistance in procuring the proper coverage and answering all my questions with regard to same is greatly appreciated.

Clarke – thanks for your help here. I spoke to NY State and I am now in compliance and up to date for workers comp and for disability.   Thanks so much again for your help and rest assured anyone I meet, who needs to acquire coverage, I will be sure to send them your way.

Why is Workers’ Compensation insurance so important?

Families that don’t have workers’ compensation insurance coverage take on significant risk if there is ever a workplace injury. This means paying out-of-pocket for the employee’s lost wages and medical expenses. A significant accident could be financially devastating. Here is a real-life case.

In addition to financial liability, in states where workers’ compensation is required, there are substantial fines for non-compliance. Finally, workers’ compensation insurance provides legal protection because employees who accept benefits generally forfeit their right to sue the employer – regardless of fault.

What states can coverage be written in?

We handle almost every state in the country. Please complete the application, or reach out to Clarke White @ Clarke.white@rtspecialty. com to learn more!

Phone: 804-267-1210
Email: [email protected]

What are the Workers’ Compensation requirements by state?

The workers’ compensation requirements for household employers are unique in every state. To learn more about the requirement in your state specifically, click here.

HomeStaff

Protect

“Simplifying the workers’ compensation process for household employers.”

July 28, 2021

What Happens if…You Have a Policy and Your Employee Is Injured?


We had a client purchase a policy for their senior caregiver taking care of a


READ MORE

June 28, 2021

New York Clients


On a weekly basis, we get calls from frantic clients who have received a letter


READ MORE

May 28, 2021

What Happens If….I do not have a policy and my employee is injured?


In many states, it is not a legal requirement to purchase a workers’


READ MORE

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Training programs in the field of healthcare for socially oriented NGOs

Today, the state of the Russian healthcare system is at an unsatisfactory level. The lack of funds for the implementation of state guarantee programs, for the modernization of the material and technical base, for raising the level of salaries for doctors leads to a decrease in the quality of medical care in general. Today, more than 80% of the country’s population is dissatisfied with the quality of medical care. The situation in the industry is aggravated by the fact that the process of reforming the industry is taking place according to the scenario of minimizing state participation and the gradual commercialization of this area, which increases social tension and reduces the level of access to medical care for various segments of the population. In addition, among the shortcomings of the implemented health policy is the lack of investment in the development of primary health care and prevention, which are the most cost-effective measures to improve the health of the population. Until now, the preventive link, despite the existence of numerous regulatory legal acts, does not apply a single system. This results in the low effectiveness of prevention in general. nine0006

Courses

Anna Nikolaevna Golovko
Main nurse FSBI “Clinic No. 1”

Emelyanov Yuri Vyacheslavovich
Candidate of medical sciences

Zorina Tatyana Grigorievna
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor

Rogunova Natalya Igorevna
Lecturer

Saversky Alexander Vladimirovich
President of the Patients’ Rights League

Q&A

Methodological manuals

Q&A

Analysis for tumor markers is one of the ways to detect
malignant tumor, but also the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the
treatment. Deviation from the norm of some markers is unambiguous …

[ Neoplasms ]
Can we cure cancer?

Yes, we can cure cancer! Cure stage 1 cancer, good enough
results and treatment of stage 2 cancer. With a number of localizations stage 3 …

[ Neoplasms ]
Is cancer contagious when caring for cancer patients?

Cancer and other malignancies are not contagious. They are
are not betrayed either by touch, or by sexual contact, or by any
in other ways. …

All answers

Methodical manuals

  • [Disease development prevention]
    Active longevity with a high quality of life of the population of Russia

    Level
    morbidity in the elderly by 2 times, and in old age – by 6 times
    higher than among young and middle-aged people. Over 70%
    this category of persons have 4-5 or more
    chronic diseases. Most common: diseases
    cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, hematopoietic, osteoarticular
    systems, respiratory, digestive, eye and ear. nine0003

  • [ General care ]
    Geriatrics

    Geriatrics is the field of clinical medicine that studies human diseases
    elderly and senile age, developing methods of their treatment and
    prevention to preserve physical and mental health
    person to a ripe old age.

  • [ General features of care ]
    Technique for performing medical procedures

    Execution
    doctor’s prescriptions related to the treatment of the patient. Cupping, mustard plasters, therapeutic baths, gastric lavage, enemas, bandaging techniques. nine0003

All teaching aids

June 19, 2012 Gratitude from the Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children with Oncological and Oncohemalogical Diseases “Life”

April 11, 2012WHO proposes a program to address the problem of quality and life expectancy of older people
April 10, 2012Tatyana Golikova: “An order has been signed that will allow senior students of medical universities to work in full-time positions of paramedical personnel”

All news

Video broadcasts

[ General features of care ]

A. N. Golovko. Technique for performing medical procedures

Duration: 107 min

Fulfillment of doctor’s orders,
related to the treatment of the patient, namely: banks, therapeutic baths, gas outlet
tube, mustard plasters, instillation of drops, enemas, compresses, sponging,
dressings, taking medications by mouth, applying ointments, washing
stomach, ice pack, candles
medical. nine0003

[ Diseases of the nervous system ]

T. G. Makhovskaya. Headache

Duration: 99 min

Headache. Facial pain. General mechanisms of headache and facial pain.
Dangerous symptoms. Brief clinical description
various forms of headache. Differentiation of patients by nature, nosological
forms of headache. Examination of a patient with headache. Additional
research methods

[Cognitive and psychological disorders]

Yu. V. Emelyanov. Depression in old age

Duration: 108 min

General information about
depression in old age. Distinctive features of depressive disorder in the elderly.
Symptoms of depression in the elderly.
Causes of depression in old age. Diagnosis of depression. Depression treatment.
Prevention of depression.

Partner Materials

  • Palliative Care Resource Center

    Palliative Care Resource Center specializes in developing
    manuals on organizing the work of sisterhoods, parishes and
    voluntary organizations for the care of patients with severe
    diseases (HIV / AIDS; tuberculosis, oncology). Methods have passed practical
    verification during the work of the “Patronage Service” “Sisterhood in the name of the faithful
    Tsarevich Dimitri” in hospitals and hospitals from 2005 to 2011.
    nine0003

  • [ Palliative Care Resource Center ]
    How to Start a Volunteer Service

    volunteers are the most valuable thing he has, and his task is first
    turn to make sure that volunteers feel comfortable working within the
    service, but at the same time they remembered that the purpose of such service is to provide assistance, and not
    pleasant joint activities. There are two necessary conditions for the successful operation of the service: you need to love volunteers, value them and help them, in
    including building interpersonal relationships; you need to love the wards and try to make sure that
    they received the necessary help and, most importantly, felt sincere
    love and sympathy. nine0003

  • [ Palliative Care Resource Center ]
    Fundamentals of Care, Palliative Care, and First Aid

    The Fundamentals of Palliative Care and Care training is designed to train volunteers to provide support, care, and care for patients with chronic, progressive illness resulting in partial or complete loss of self-care. The program is compiled in accordance with the requirements set forth in the exemplary standard programs for the subjects: “Fundamentals of Nursing” and “Nursing in Surgery”, approved in accordance with the State Educational Standard in the specialty “Nursing”. nine0003

  • [ Palliative Care Resource Center ]
    HIV infection. Methodical manual

    The methodological manual was compiled in accordance with the requirements of the State Educational Standard and is intended for teachers and students of medical schools studying in the specialty Nursing at the basic level of education. This manual can be used by teachers on the subject Nursing in infectious diseases, with a course of HIV infection and epidemiology, in preparation for classes on the topics: Nursing process in HIV infection, HIV infection: clinical manifestations and forms and Prevention of HIV infection and occupational infections. nine0003

  • [ Palliative Care Resource Center ]
    Critically Ill Nursing Handbook

    This handbook is a course in caring for patients with partial or complete loss of self-care due to progressive chronic diseases. The manual has been prepared for a wide audience, including sisters of mercy of the Sisterhoods of the Russian Orthodox Church, volunteers at home and in healthcare facilities, as well as junior nurses of medical institutions, relatives of patients and everyone who wants to learn how to care. nine0015

  • [ Palliative Care Resource Center ]
    Tips for Organizing Volunteer Groups in Hospitals

    Organizing is easiest for someone who is familiar with hospital work. It must be remembered that even a skillful and thoughtful organization of this work does not always ensure the success of the volunteer work. The enthusiasm of many volunteers can quickly fade. Spiritual guidance is needed in the work of volunteers. We definitely need a priest who would take this leadership upon himself. nine0003

UHF Next Step in Care

Although there are federal guidelines for training home carers, each state has its own system for training and certifying home carers. For a list of training hours for each state, see the PHI icy/states page. Most states do not have training requirements for patronage workers.

speech therapists work with speech skills, such as helping people recover from a stroke and regain clear speech. nine0003

Occupational Therapists (OT) retrain people in skills such as eating and dressing themselves. They show disabled or weak people how to get out of bed and move to a chair.

Social Workers help you apply for benefits and provide information about services such as adult day care or respite care (vacation time for your caregiver). They can also discuss your worries and other concerns with you. nine0003

Home caregivers and home care workers provide mainly personal care, which includes assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, moving around, and with activities related to living at home such as shopping, cooking and laundry.

Carers are only allowed to perform certain tasks related to medical or personal care. They can measure the temperature and measure the pressure of the patient. They may change dry dressings (those that do not ooze blood or pus) and assist the patient with movement exercises such as simple stretching, arm and leg movements. As a general rule, they are not allowed to administer medication to patients; Each state has its own rules about what carers are allowed to do. nine0003

Please note that the caregiver comes to the home solely to care for the patient and is not required to care for the patient’s spouse or other family members. If you pay in person, you can assign tasks that include other family members. (Some home care companies include childcare if the patient is the head of household.)

Visitors perform many of the same duties as home caregivers. The difference between home visitors and carers depends on each state’s training requirements. nine0003

Many people think that personal care does not require special skills. But it’s not. Some tasks can be very difficult, such as bathing a dementia patient or moving (moving) a very sick patient.

Housekeepers at can help your family members with light cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, and other household tasks that will make it possible for your relative to stay at home. As a rule, housekeepers do not provide personal care and are not maids. Usually, housekeepers don’t do more complex tasks and don’t do a full house cleaning. nine0003

As home care agencies, agencies that provide “skilled” services (nursing care and rehabilitation) are generally referred to as home health agencies. .

For more information on working effectively with home caregivers, home visitors, and housekeepers, see the Working with Home Caregivers guide.

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What are the types of home care agencies?

There are several types of agencies.

Home Health Agency (HHA) licensed by the state and certified by Medicare and Medicaid to provide skilled care. Also, these agencies provide personal care services from their own home caregivers or caregivers working for other agencies, such as home care agencies, with which there is an agreement to cooperate. nine0003

Home Care Agencies provide home caregivers, home visitors, or housekeepers for * personal care, transportation to medical appointments, and household chores. Some home care agencies also provide nursing and other trained staff. Individuals who need home care for an extended period of time may be able to contract personal care with home care agencies through Medicaid. nine0003

Some states require licensing of home care agencies that participate in Medicaid.

Agencies providing non-medical or associate services are generally not licensed or covered by health insurance (an exception may be long-term care insurance). Some workers may be trained as home caregivers, but this depends on the individual worker. Often non-medical agencies are small, local organizations that are franchises of large companies with well-known names. nine0003

When Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance pays for home care, they probably won’t pay for all the care your relative needs.

Employment agencies and accounting offices give the names of people who provide home care. Your relative’s staff may also have an accounting office. It is often available through the State Department of Health.

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Who pays for home care services? nine0037

Skilled care

Generally, Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance pays for skilled care provided by a doctor-appointed nurse or physician through an HHA. Keep in mind that insurance may not cover all the care your family member needs.

Medicare and complementary health plans only pay for personal care if your relative is receiving skilled medical care. They do not cover personal care by themselves. nine0003

Medicare , as a government program for people over 65 and disabled under 65, can pay for home care services—but only for the period your relative needs skilled care (usually weeks, not months). The rules for Medicare Advantage plans that are provided through private insurance companies may differ from those for “primary” Medicare, and their case managers can help you.

Medicare and most private health plans (including ancillary plans and Medigap) will pay for home care services if the patient meets the following requirements:

  • The doctor certifies in writing that he or she has seen the patient within the last 30 days and that the patient needs skilled nursing care. Without a signed paper, the home care agency cannot “open a case” (start your relative’s care). This paper can be signed by the doctor at the hospital or the district doctor who has seen your relative in the last 30 days.
  • The patient is housebound (meaning that it is very difficult for him or her to leave the house). nine0081
  • The patient needs only short-term or part-time skilled services.

Medicaid long-term care programs may change dramatically over the next few years. Eligibility criteria, services, and care arrangements may change as a result of efforts to control costs at the federal and state levels. If your relative is receiving long-term care services or Medicaid support (such as home care), keep a close eye on notices of upcoming changes. nine0003

You may want or need to arrange some type of home care for your relative, but insurance may not cover some or all of them. In addition, there is a shortage of qualified workers, which can affect the number and type of services you can receive. (For information about other institutional and home rehabilitation options, see the Prepare for Inpatient Rehabilitation guide in the Next Step in Care series.)

Medicare Changes: Prior to a January 2013 federal court ruling, some providers incorrectly told patients that Medicare would not pay for rehab unless there was permanent improvement. Now, Skilled Nursing Facility Rehab, Outpatient Rehab, or Home Care Agency Rehabilitation may continue if, without continued skilled therapy, the patient’s functional ability would deteriorate until the dollar limit (limit) for this therapy. Once this limit is reached, you may apply for an exception based on the patient’s continued need. Some exceptions are automatic; others need to be documented. Because many providers are still unaware of this ruling, you may need to act as a strong advocate to get continued therapy for your family member. For information about Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service Delivery regulations, see the Center for Medicare Advocacy website: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/medicare-info/improvement-standard/improvement-standard-update-cms- revisions-medicare-policy/. nine0003

Medicaid , a low-income government program, can pay for home care services if your relative is eligible. Each state has different types of Medicaid, and what Medicaid pays depends on your family member’s specific insurance plan.

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Personal Care (Non-Skilled Nursing)

Medicare and most subsidiary plans do not cover regular personal care. nine0003

Medicaid can pay for personal care. However, each state decides who can get paid and what services are covered. Each state has different types of Medicaid programs for people who need long-term home care (called home care and community care). Some states have Medicaid-led long-term care programs that provide patient administrators and other services to help manage care. This includes a type of program adopted in some states called Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care. For more information about Medicaid rules in your relative’s state, contact your social worker, your local Area Agency on Aging office, your local Medicaid office, or your state Medicaid office. nine0003

Long-term care insurance is a privately paid insurance plan that covers only long-term needs such as personal care. Most long-term policies cover some part of inpatient care, such as living in a nursing facility or nursing home. Some also pay for services in the area where they live, such as home care and adult day care. Depending on the specific plan, care may be limited. nine0003

Local Area Agencies on Aging may provide sponsorship for personal care and case management services, depending on your relative’s circumstances.

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Housekeeper Services

Local Area Agencies on Aging or Charities your relative’s situation. In some states, housekeeper services may also be paid by some Medicaid programs .

Whether you are hiring agency or personally paid employees, make sure you understand the role of each in advance. It is necessary to know what each person can do and what cannot.

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Referral to a home care agency

Let’s say your relative is in the hospital with Medicare or Medicaid and the doctor says your relative will need home care. The discharge preparer (nurse or social worker) will likely refer you to home care agencies in your area. If your family member has private health insurance, the discharge preparer will refer you to the agencies that the insurance company works with. nine0003

You have a choice of agencies. Your choices may depend on your family member’s insurance, care needs, or location. (One thing to consider: Will it be easy for home care workers to get to your relative’s house?)

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What questions should you ask a home care agency?

Whether you pay yourself or use insurance, you should ask the following questions:

  • What kind of services do you provide?
  • What tasks can your employees perform?
  • Do you train your nurses? How often? Performing what tasks? What type of testing is done to make sure caregivers have learned to complete the tasks?
  • Have your carers received special training in caring for people with conditions such as dementia, paralysis or stroke (or other conditions that apply to your relative)?
  • How do you monitor the work of your nurses? How often does the supervisor come and oversee the work of the nurses? What time do they work? nine0081
  • Do you screen carers before you hire them? How?
  • Do you do background checks? What exactly is included in this check? Is the criminal background check just for this state or nationwide?

Whether you are hiring agency or personally paid employees, make sure you understand the role of each in advance. It is necessary to know what each person can do and what cannot. nine0003

  • Do you test your caregivers for drug use? How often?
  • Are your carers insured and bound by your agency?
  • What type of health insurance do you accept?
  • How much do you charge per hour?
  • How often will I need to pay you? Do you accept credit cards?
  • Can your agency arrange medical equipment if required?
  • How do you deal with complaints? nine0081
  • Do you provide 24/7 emergency access?

You can also go to the home health agency database on the government’s Medicare website and compare agencies. This will give you basic information about what services the agencies provide, as well as the number of patients who improved and those who required hospitalization. The site does not offer information about other aspects that may be important to you, such as how reliable and friendly the agency nurses are when caring for patients. nine0003

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Once an agency is selected

The home care agency will schedule an initial visit during which the nurse will assess your relative and determine the type and amount of services that will be provided.

  • You need to schedule a time to be present during the first visit. You will be able to give important information during the evaluation, ask questions and share your comments if you disagree with the results of the evaluation. nine0081

The home care agency will then contact your relative’s insurance company to request a service authorization. The insurance company may allow all the requested services, some or none, depending on certain rules. If you disagree with the insurance company’s decision, you should learn about the appeal process.

If insurance is not included (private payment method), permission is not required.

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Mutual Care Agreement

Home care may ask you to sign an agreement before taking on your relative’s case. Typically, this agreement will say that the “responsible person” (you or another adult who is able and willing) will:

  • send homecare workers if your relative is unable to do so.
  • to replace an employee if he or his replacement fails to appear.
  • nine0077 organize, prepare and give to your relative his/her medicines.

  • perform some treatment procedures. The nature of the procedures will be determined after an assessment of your relative’s condition and the care he or she needs.

If you refuse to sign this agreement, the service has the right to refuse to take on your relative’s case. On the other hand, if you are unable to perform any of these responsibilities, you must tell the referral person and the home care agency. Other solutions may be found. nine0003

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Record keeping

Keep a record of what time nurses, physical therapists, social workers, and other professionals come to your home. If possible, plan to be there when they arrive, at least in the beginning. This will give you the opportunity to follow what they are doing, ask questions, and learn how to complete tasks that you may have to do later. Keep their phone numbers handy so you can call them with questions, report any changes, or discuss problems. nine0003

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Can I get paid for my relative’s home care?

Be aware that there are often waiting lists for these programs and states are cutting them down due to lack of funding.

State Programs : Some states have programs that help people pay for the caregiver they choose, and in certain circumstances the caregiver may be a relative. These programs go by different names—consumer-driven, member-driven, cash and counseling, and others—and are very different depending on where you live. Most have care recipient income and other requirements, and often strict rules govern who can get paid to provide care. For information about what’s available in your state, contact your local Medicaid office or the Department of Nursing, or see the Member Directed Services section of the National Resource Center. nine0003

Veteran’s benefits : in 2010 passed a law that provides a monthly stipend to the chief medical officer of veterans injured in a military conflict after 09/11/2001. Other benefits for caregivers include travel expenses, access to health insurance, mental health care, and temporary replacement for 30 days a year. For more information, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Those responsible for caring for veterans from other wars may be eligible for Veterans Administration’s Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. In addition, some state programs are designed specifically for veterans. nine0003

Long term care insurance : If your relative has long term care insurance, it may cover some of the home care. Some rules allow payment to relatives, although they may exclude people living in the same household. Contact your relative’s insurance agent or insurance company for more information about this benefit and its terms.

Career Contracts : If none of these options apply to you, all is not lost, especially if the person you are caring for has savings or other assets. For example, a parent may wish to enter into a contract with a caregiver and pay their son or daughter for the care provided. Consult with an aged care lawyer to make sure the contract is tax compliant, respects inheritance rights, and is approved by all other stakeholders, such as siblings). (You can find an aged care lawyer in your relative’s area on the NAELA website.) Be aware of the emotional pitfalls of such an organization. nine0003

Other options : If you are experiencing financial hardship due to your health care situation, here are a few other options that can help: care, which will remove some of the responsibility from you. Get started with Eldercare Locator or BenefitsCheckUp.org.

After reading this manual, we recommend that you read the companion manual Working with Home Carers. nine0003

  • Try to find a job that you can do from home, or a job that allows you the flexibility you need to be your caregiver.
  • Call a family meeting with siblings and other relatives to discuss ways to share the financial burden.

Remember, your financial and emotional health must remain a top priority so that you can continue to give your loved ones the care they need.