Top Agencies Helping Families Apply for Medicaid Home Care Coverage
Every year, millions of American families need home care for a loved one who is elderly or living with a disability. The good news? Medicaid home care coverage can pay for help at home instead of moving to a nursing home. The hard part? The application process can feel long and confusing.
That is why the best agencies are here! They help you for free. They tell you the rules in your state. They let you pick your own family or friend to get paid for caring. This easy guide shows the top agencies for 2025. It tells you how they work. And how you can start today!
Why Families Choose Medicaid Home Care Instead of Nursing Homes
More than 6 million people use Medicaid long-term care services every year. Over 60% of them now get care at home instead of in a facility (Medicaid.gov, 2024). Families say the top reasons are:
- Stay in their own house with people they love
- Better quality of life and happiness
- Often lower cost for the state
- Chance to pay a family member or close friend as the caregiver
Top Agencies and Programs That Help You Apply
1. FreedomCare – Best for Paying a Family Member or Friend
FreedomCare is one of the top agencies helping families apply for Medicaid home care coverage because it specializes in “self-directed” or “consumer-directed” care. Key benefits:
- You choose your caregiver – adult child, spouse, friend, or relative
- The caregiver gets paid an hourly wage (average $15–$21 per hour, depending on the state)
- FreedomCare handles all payroll, taxes, and paperwork
- Free help with all the Medicaid papers from start to end
- You can get it in New York, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Indiana, and Missouri
- And more states are coming fast in 2025! → Visit: https://freedomcare.com/
2. Your Local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) – Free Help in Every Single County
Every county in the United States has an Area Agency on Aging. They are government-funded and 100% free. What they do:
- Check if you qualify for Medicaid home care assistance
- Fill out the application with you
- Explain Medicaid waiver programs in your state
- Connect you to home health aides that Medicaid covers. Find yours fast: Call 1-800-677-1116 or visit: Get paid as a caregiver for a family member1
3. State Medicaid Office or Department of Human Services
Each state runs its own state Medicaid home care programs. The official Medicaid website lists every state’s phone number and online portal. Popular state programs in 2025:
- New York – Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)
- California – In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) – pays family caregivers
- Texas – Community Care for Aged and Disabled
- Florida – Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program. Get your state-specific help: Where Can People Get Help With Medicaid & CHIP2?
4. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) – Great for People with Disabilities
More than 400 non-profit Centers for Independent Living help adults and children with disabilities get disability home care Medicaid. They offer:
- Free application help
- Training on how to direct your own care
- Information on Medicaid waiver programs. Find your local center: We create opportunities for independence for people with disabilities through research, education, and consultation3.
5. SHIP – State Health Insurance Assistance Program
SHIP counselors give free, unbiased help with Medicaid and Medicare questions, including Medicaid benefits for the elderly and long-term care. Call 877-839-2675 or visitshiphelp.org4
How to Know If You Qualify for Medicaid Home Care Coverage
You usually need to meet three tests:
- Medical Need – Doctor says you need help with at least 2–3 daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating, walking, etc.)
- Income Limit – Most states: under $2,829/month for a single person in 2025 (married couples higher)
- Asset Limit – Usually under $2,000–$3,000 in savings (house and one car do NOT count)
Many states have Medicaid waiver programs that ignore parents’ income when a disabled child lives at home.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Medicaid Home Care Coverage in 2025
- Call your local Area Agency on Aging or one of the agencies above
- Ask for Medicaid eligibility for home care screening (takes 10–15 minutes)
- Gather documents: ID, Social Security card, bank statements, doctor notes
- Let the agency help you fill out the application (most do it for free)
- Choose your caregiver (family member or agency worker)
- Once approved, care can start in 2–12 weeks, depending on the state
Most Popular Paid Family Caregiver Programs in 2025
- New York CDPAP – Any legally responsible adult can be paid (except spouses in some cases)
- California IHSS – Pays parents of disabled minors and adult children of elderly parents
- Missouri Consumer-Directed Services – Through FreedomCare and others
- Pennsylvania – Options through the Community HealthChoices waiver
Common Myths – Busted
Myth: “My house will be taken if I get Medicaid.” Truth: Your primary home is protected for life and for your spouse.
Myth: “Only strangers can be paid caregivers.” Truth: 42 states now allow paid family caregivers Medicaid programs.
Myth: “It takes years to get approved.” Truth: With help from the top agencies helping families apply for Medicaid home care coverage, many families start care in 30–90 days.
Real Family Stories
Maria from Brooklyn: “My son cares for me full-time. FreedomCare helped us apply, and now he earns $19/hour doing what he already did for free.”
James from Las Vegas: “The Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division walked my wife through the application. We had a caregiver for 6 weeks.”
FAQs
Can my spouse be my paid caregiver?
Yes, in about 20 states, but no in other states. Every state has its own rules. Call your state Medicaid office and ask. They will tell you fast and easy.
Will Medicaid pay for 24-hour care at home?
Yes, it can if the doctor says you really need help all day and night. It also has to fit the state money rules. Many families get this help, and the loved one stays safe at home.
Do I lose my Medicare if I get Medicaid?
No, you do not lose Medicare! Lots of people have both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. They call this “dual eligible.” It gives you the very best help and costs less.
Conclusion
Getting help to get Medicaid home care is easy! Good agencies help families for free. You can keep Mom at home. You can pay your daughter to take care of Dad. Or get helpers who come to the house. Medicaid can pay for it. Free help is just one phone call away!
Start with the agency that fits your state and needs best. Most families say the process was much easier than they expected – and worth every minute.
