Support at Home funding will continue to cover care related services and support.
Initially pricing will be set by providers, whilst The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) determine a price guide which all providers will need to adhere to ensuring fair pricing to all Support at Home participants. This capped pricing is likely to commence 1 July 2026.
Services will be categorised into, Clinical, Independance and Every day, Australian seniors with financial means will be expected to contribute more to Independance and Everyday services. Please see page 17 of the Support at Home Program manual.
Under the Support at Home program and based on income and assets assessment, you will pay contributions for the services you have received. Your contributions will be determined based on the hourly rate for the service or a percentage of the cost of the service type or product. If you receive three hours of personal care, for example, you will pay a contribution per hour received. This will be invoiced to you by your provider and payable directly to your provider.
For items such as consumables, your contribution will be calculated as a percentage of the cost.
Contribution Arrangements for Existing Home Care Recipients
A ‘no worse-off’ principle for contribution arrangements will prevent the 2025 aged care reforms from negatively impacting current home care recipients. What does this mean?
If on 12 September 2024, you were either:
A) Receiving a Home Care Package
B) On the National Priority System
C) Assessed as being eligible for a Home Care Package
…you will make the same or lower contributions once you transition to Support at Home.
Existing Home Care Package recipients who do not pay an income-tested care fee will continue with no such fees under Support at Home. Those who are paying income-tested fees, however, will transition into Support at Home with special discounted contribution arrangements.
Finally, a cap will ensure no individual pays more than $130,000 in non-clinical care costs over their lifetime. This applies to both in-home care and residential care.
