Paying for care
How families pay for home care in Colorado.
The most common question we get. Here is what care costs with us and the four ways families cover it — then call and we will walk through what you may qualify for. It takes about ten minutes and costs nothing.
Cost
What home care costs
Hourly care at First Centennial Care runs $34–$38 per hour depending on the level of care and the time of day. Awake overnight and holiday rates are quoted separately. There is no assessment fee, no start-up fee and no charge for supervisory visits. Visits are a minimum of four hours, and you get the rate in writing before care begins.
Option 1
Private pay
Hourly, billed every two weeks. No long-term contract and no cancellation penalty — hours can go up or down as needs change.
Option 2
Long-term care insurance
Most policies cover non-medical home care once their conditions are met (often help needed with daily activities such as bathing or dressing). We bill most carriers directly and complete the claim paperwork with you.
Option 3
VA benefits
Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for Aid and Attendance or the Veteran-Directed Care program, which can help pay for help at home.
Option 4
Colorado Medicaid HCBS waivers
Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado) offers Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can cover in-home services such as personal care, homemaking and respite for people who qualify. Eligibility — medical and financial — is decided through the state's case management process, not by the agency. If you already have a case manager, ask them about non-medical home care and tell them you would like First Centennial Care.
Not covered
What Medicare does not pay for
Medicare covers short-term skilled home health care ordered by a doctor. It generally does not pay for ongoing non-medical help — bathing, dressing, homemaking or companionship — when that is the only care needed. That is why most families use one of the four options above.
Questions
Common questions about paying for care
How much does home care cost in the Denver area?
At First Centennial Care, hourly care runs $34–$38 per hour depending on the level of care and the time of day. Awake overnight and holiday rates are quoted separately. There is no assessment fee, no start-up fee and no charge for supervisory visits, and you get the rate in writing before care begins.
Does Medicare pay for non-medical home care?
Generally no. Medicare covers short-term skilled home health care ordered by a doctor, but it does not pay for ongoing non-medical help such as bathing, dressing, homemaking or companionship when that is the only care needed.
Does Colorado Medicaid pay for home care?
It can. Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado) offers Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can cover services such as personal care, homemaking and respite for people who qualify medically and financially. Eligibility is decided through the state's case management process, not by the agency. Call us and we will explain how to start.
Will long-term care insurance cover it?
Most long-term care insurance policies cover non-medical home care once the policy's conditions are met. We bill most carriers directly and complete the claim paperwork with you.
Can veterans get help paying for home care?
Yes, potentially. VA Aid and Attendance and the Veteran-Directed Care program can help veterans and surviving spouses pay for in-home care. We can walk you through what is involved.
Is there a minimum or a contract?
Visits are a minimum of four hours. Private-pay care is billed every two weeks with no long-term contract and no cancellation penalty.
Talk to a person today.
No phone tree and no obligation. Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am–4pm. After-hours calls are returned within 24 hours.