Five Ways West Michigan Families Pay for In-Home Care

Most families assume in-home care is entirely out of pocket. Often it is not. Between Medicaid waivers, veterans benefits, and long-term care policies people forgot they had, a large share of the families we talk to qualify for help they did not know existed.

Here is each option in plain terms, including who it actually covers and where to apply. We are glad to walk you through any of these even if you never become a client.

1. MI Choice Medicaid Waiver

Michigan’s waiver program pays for in-home care instead of a nursing home for people who qualify both medically and financially. It covers personal care, homemaking, respite, and more.

• Who qualifies: adults who need a nursing-home level of care but want to stay home, and who meet Medicaid financial limits.
• How to apply: through your Area Agency on Aging. In Kent and Ionia counties call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (616) 456-5664. In Ottawa and Muskegon, call Senior Resources of West Michigan at (231) 739-5858. In Kalamazoo, call Region IIIA at (269) 373-5173. In Barry County, call CareWell Services Southwest at (269) 966-2450.
• Worth knowing: there is often a waiting list, so apply before you are in crisis.

2. Michigan Home Help Program

A state-funded MDHHS program that pays for personal care assistance at home. In many cases a family member can be paid to provide that care.

• Who qualifies: Medicaid beneficiaries who need help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and transfers.
• How to apply: through MDHHS. A functional assessment determines approved hours.
• Worth knowing: this is the program behind most “get paid to care for a loved one” searches. It is real, and it is worth asking about. More on the Michigan Medicaid caregiver program.

3. Long-Term Care Insurance

If your loved one bought a long-term care policy years ago, it very likely includes home care benefits that have never been used.

• Who qualifies: anyone holding an active policy. Benefits usually trigger when a person needs help with two or more activities of daily living.
• How to start: find the policy and call us. We verify benefits at no charge and handle prior authorizations and billing directly with the insurer. See how our insurance billing works.
• Worth knowing: many policies have an elimination period — a set number of days you pay out of pocket before benefits begin. Starting the claim early matters.

4. VA Aid & Attendance

A pension benefit that can help wartime veterans and surviving spouses pay for in-home care.

• Who qualifies: veterans meeting service and income requirements who need help with daily activities. Surviving spouses may qualify too.
• How to apply: free accredited help is available through Kent County Veterans Services, Muskegon County Veterans Affairs at (231) 798-4445, or the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency at 1-800-MICH-VET.
• Worth knowing: the VA Caregiver Support Line at (855) 260-3274 is staffed by licensed social workers and is worth calling even if you are only exploring. More on veterans home care.

5. Private Pay

Paying directly, without waiting on an approval process. Care can usually start within 24 to 48 hours.

• Our rates: $32 to $40 per hour with a 3-hour minimum and no long-term contract. See our full rate breakdown.
• Common sources: retirement income, savings, family contributions, a reverse mortgage, or proceeds from selling a home.
• Worth knowing: many families start private pay while a Medicaid or VA application is pending, then transition once it is approved.

What About Medicare?

This is the most common misunderstanding we encounter, so it is worth stating plainly: Original Medicare does not pay for ongoing non-medical home care. It covers short-term skilled home health — nursing, physical therapy — after a qualifying hospital stay, and it covers hospice. It does not cover a caregiver who helps with bathing, meals, and companionship over the long term.

Some Medicare Advantage plans have begun adding limited in-home support benefits. If you are on Advantage, it is worth checking your specific plan. For free, unbiased help understanding any Medicare question, call MMAP at (800) 803-7174 — they are counselors, not salespeople.

Not Sure Where You Fall?

Call us at (616) 209-9151. We will talk through your situation and tell you which of these is worth pursuing. If the answer is that you should call your Area Agency on Aging instead of hiring us, we will tell you that too — and give you the number.

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