If you need home health care services (including skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, or services provided by a home health aide) but don’t qualify for a government insurance program, or if you desire more services than these programs cover, you may choose to obtain these services under a private insurance plan, a long-term care plan, or by paying out-of-pocket.

• Commercial or private health insurance. Plans sponsored by an employer, including those for retirees, and plans purchased by an individual often cover home health care services for limited periods. Check with your plan administrator, benefits coordinator, or insurance representative to verify what your policy covers.

• Long-Term Care (LTC) and related forms of insurance. Whether provided by an employer or purchased individually, LTC provides specific dollar payments for insured persons who require assistance with activities of daily living. Policies vary in terms of how much assistance is covered, and by benefit amounts. Be sure to check with your provider to verify that your plan covers what you think it does.

• Out-of-pocket. For several reasons, many seniors and their families choose to pay for private home health care out-of-pocket. First, paying out-of-pocket gives you greater flexibility in the type and amount of services you order. In some cases, a patient’s Medicare coverage or other private insurance coverage may not pay for all of the home health care services you need or want. It may be that the benefits have been exhausted, or perhaps the patient’s medical needs do not qualify them for covered home care services. Second, you can avoid the restrictions and limits of programs provided by the government or private insurers. Finally, paying for home care may be a less costly alternative to a nursing home or assisted living placement.

If you are a VNSNY patient, or the caregiver of one, and you would like more services than Medicare or a private insurance company will cover, you can pay for private care while still maintaining care that is reimbursed by Medicare. In addition, you can arrange to keep the same home health aide when you use VNSNY for the Medicare portion of your services and our affiliate, Partners in Care, for the private care. Finally, when using both VNSNY and Partners in Care services together, your private care services are provided at a reduced rate.