Are you a home care agency, taxpayer, family caregiver, or home care/home health aide recipient and wondering how much Medicaid pays for home care services in Pennsylvania? We discuss that and much more in our newest Medicaid waiver guide for home care services in Philadelphia, PA. Plus, we talk about how hired and family caregivers can find the best paying home care agencies and how clients can get the top care that they deserve. 

How much does Medicaid pay for home care in Pennsylvania?

Medicaid is paid through the state. The state of Pennsylvania breaks down the pay rates for home care services by different zones. For example, zone 4 is the zone that covers Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Medicaid in Pennsylvania Zone 4 under Community Health Choices waiver pays $21.52 per hour. This includes Medicaid under different healthcare plans in PA which includes Keystone First Community Health Choices, AmeriHealth Caritas, PA Health and Wellness, and UPMC.

Keep in mind though that this pay rate is the pay rate that home care agencies receive. Medicaid cannot and will not pay family caregivers, clients, or other individuals directly. Therefore, if you want to know what Medicaid pays for home care as a caregiver, home health aide, or client, then you will need to find how much the best paying home care agencies in Philadelphia make such as Chosen Family Home Care. 

When I ask “How much does Medicaid pay for home care?”, what I am really asking is “How much or what quantity of home care services or hours will Medicaid approve?”

Medicaid approves home care services through the Medicaid waiver program. For disabled adults and seniors in needs of assistance, this is usually approved through Community HealthChoices. So, if you want to know how many home care hours will be approved for you if you become eligible for the Medicaid waiver. It all depends on the needs of the client who is in need of care. However, you will be glad to know there is not a defined limit to the number of hours one can receive under this program. For example, for those with high enough needs, one could be approved for 24 hour care, 7 days a week. Others can be approved for much fewer hours, perhaps as few as 12 hours per week. As you can see there is a huge variation. The number of hours assigned to a client is determined during the assessment which is done by the health plan. For example, when an individual is approved for home care services, they will select the managed care health plan which oversees their care and services. This includes PA Health and Wellness, Keystone First, UPMC, or Amerihealth Caritas.

What if I am a caregiver under the Medicaid waiver (Keystone First, UPMC, PA Health and Wellness) insurance plan in PA? What does Medicaid pay? 

Please see below under “Getting Paid Under Medicaid As A Caregiver” below for how caregivers can get paid through Medicaid waiver (including family caregivers) in Pennsylvania.

Is there any way to get a better Medicaid pay rate from the State of Pennsylvania?

Unfortunately not. As long as the services in question are Personal Assistance Services (non-medical home care services provided through the Medicaid Waiver), then the state of Pennsylvania will always pay $21.52 per hour for home care services in Philadelphia. This rate is accurate as of July 2o24. Other regions in Philadelphia have a different pay rate (which is lower than that of the Philadelphia area.

Getting Paid Under Medicaid As A Caregiver

Does Medicaid pay caregivers overtime?

Medicaid pays a flat rate across all agencies. That means that the pay rate will remain the same to every home care agency. Even if a caregiver works overtime, the agency will still earn the same rate based on their zone.

Do I have to use a home care agency? Will Medicaid pay for home care services directly to a caregiver (including family caregivers)?

Medicaid with Community Health Choices will not pay home care services directly to a caregiver or home health aide.

Since Medicaid or the major health plans will not pay a family caregiver or home health aide, a family caregiver or home health aide must choose a home care agency and be employed by that home care agency.

Do the Community Health Choices health plans pay home health aides or family caregivers directly?

Community HealthChoices is an extension of the state of PA as they are contracted to administer home care services to participants. Therefore, they follow the same guidelines as the state. Home care agencies are therefore contracted directly under local health plans. In Philadelphia, those include Keystone First, UPMC, and PA Health and Wellness. Therefore, as previously mentioned, family caregivers and home health aides are hired directly through an agency. 

What if I have a family member/friend/myself that wants to try to sign up for home care services in PA? How do I start the process?

Chosen Family Home Care is here to point you in the right direction. Check out our guide on how you can get paid to care for family which also is a step by step process and shares the eligibility for a family member to receive home care services in which another family member gets paid as a caregiver!

How much do home care agencies pay to family caregivers in Philadelphia, PA?

Home care agencies in Philadelphia pay an average of $11 to $15 per hour in the Philadelphia, PA region. Chosen Family Home Care has researched this extensively to come up with the pay range of home care agencies in Philadelphia. Chosen Family Home Care pays its caregivers $15 per hour (on average, call for details and specifics) , making them the best paying home care agency in Philadelphia. It doesn’t end there though. Check out all that Chosen Family Home Care has to offer its employees that work as caregivers (including paid family caregivers in Philadelphia). We even offer the opportunity for our caregivers to take a Certified Nurse Aide Training program in Philadelphia for free! The program normally runs $1745. Call for details and eligibility.

Do home care agencies in Philadelphia, PA pay overtime?

Some home care agencies will allow overtime. Others will not allow overtime. However, if a family caregiver has a regular schedule of more than 40 hours per week, agencies will adjust pay rates to accommodate for having to pay an overtime rate which is 1.5 times the regular pay rate. Chosen Family Home Care will allow caregivers to have a regular schedule of over 40 hours per week. Inquire for details by calling 267.457.4122.

What is the best paying home care agency in Philadelphia, PA?

Chosen Family Home Care did plenty of research across Philadelphia to make sure they were the highest paying home care agency in Philadelphia. The $15 guarantee means that Chosen Family Home Care pays $15 per hour (on average, call for dtails). If the caregiver works a regular schedule of more than 40 hours per week, that caregiver will earn an adjusted rate (lower regular rate plus overtime rate at 1.5 times the pay rate) which averages $15 per hour. Call or text Chosen Family Home Care at 267.457.4122.

Does Chosen Family Home Care allow overtime?

If the family caregiver home health aide or client has approved hours that exceed 40 hours per week, that caregiver will earn an average of $15 per hour. That means that their regular rate will be lower than $15 per hour but that the caregivers will make 1.5 times their regular rate for overtime hours (hours that exceed 40 hours per week), effectively increasing the overall pay rate. 

Does Chosen Family Home Care and other agencies offer benefits?

The best home care agencies will offer an extensive set of benefits. Be sure to check with an agency directly to see whatever they offer. However, the best agency in Philadelphia, Chosen Family Home Care, offers benefits that include paid time off (up to 40 hours per year), 7 paid holidays, major medical healthcare insurance that will cover up to 100 percent of the healthcare premium, a $500 sign on bonus when starting services (terms and conditions apply- call for details), weekly pay, and a 401k retirement plan with a 3 percent match (free money!). Contact Chosen Family Home Care today at 267.457.4122 and start the switch to our agency today!