Home Care in Maryland

According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, you can expect to pay $5,148 per month for home care in Maryland. Rates are the same whether you require in-home care, which is help with household chores such as cooking and cleaning or need home health care, which is assistance with personal care or medications. Home care rates vary depending on your location and the service level you need.

In some areas, such as Virginia, home health care costs are slightly less than in other states in the region. Maryland’s in-home care and home health care prices are on par with the national average. They’re somewhat higher than the neighboring states of Pennsylvania and Virginia but less expensive than Delaware and the nation’s capital. Pennsylvania’s monthly rates are $4,957 for both care types. Virginia’s monthly home care rates are the most affordable at $4,767 per month of in-home care and $4,954 per month for home health care. Washington, D.C. and Delaware have the highest monthly rates at $5,577 for both care types.

You might be interested in comparing other options to ensure that you’re getting the best value for your money and care for your needs. Typically, in-home care costs less than assisted living facilities, which charge $4,900 per month. Adult day care is the most affordable option at less than $2,000 per month. Nursing home care is the most expensive choice, with a median cost of $10,342 for a semiprivate room.

Medical Assistance, Maryland’s Medicaid program, covers home care agency services through the Medicaid State Plan. It also offers Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers to targeted groups, including seniors and disabled adults. Medicaid includes personal care, durable medical equipment and physical therapy as part of its standard benefits.

Many seniors qualify for the state’s HCBS waivers, which allow residents to receive home care as an alternative to nursing home placement. Since the program requires medical eligibility criteria based on your functional needs, income limits may be higher than other Medicaid programs. The Department of Human Resources also offers a sliding-scale In-Home Aide Program to seniors who live at home, require an institutional care level and don’t have a caregiver.

Since Medicaid is a need-based program, it has strict financial requirements. To qualify for regular Medicaid, your annual income cannot exceed $4,200 if you’re applying individually or $4,704 if you’re applying with your spouse. An individual’s assets are typically limited to $2,000, and a couple’s asset limit is $3,000. Higher-income limits may apply to other Medicaid programs, including those that require a nursing home care level.

The easiest way to apply for Medicaid is online through MDThink. You can also visit your local Department of Social Services office to apply in person or drop off a paper application. If you’re applying for help with home care, fill out the Long-Term Care/Waiver Medical Assistance Application. You must also complete the Application for Assistance form if you’re aged 65 or older to apply for regular Medicaid. For individuals in Baltimore, Anne Arundel County or Prince George’s County, contact the Bureau of Long-Term Care for help with your application.

What Information You Will Need

When you apply for Medicaid, you will need to verify your eligibility with supporting documents. These include:

• Proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Proof of residency
• Financial records, such as bank statements or assets transferred in the past five years
• Insurance policy numbers
• Proof of income, including tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs and government benefits
• Disability information and type of assistance needed
• Unpaid medical bills

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

If you need help submitting your application or if you want to check your case’s status, the following agencies may be able to help, depending on the nature of your inquiry.

Medicare doesn’t pay for non-medical home care, but it can cover the cost of the medical version of home care, called “Home Healthcare” in some situations. In order to be eligible, you need to be homebound and have a referral from your doctor for the specific type of medical care that is needed. There are also other restrictions that apply.

Below is an overview of some of the services typically covered by Medicare for those who are eligible:

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), and to treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis. Additionally, physical therapy is often provided in the home to help seniors recover from surgeries and procedures, such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Nursing Care: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services (such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.) for those who need medical care, but don’t need to stay in a hospital full-time.
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy is designed to help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, etc., and providers can travel to your home if needed.
• Speech Therapy: Seniors can lose the ability to adequately communicate for many reasons, and speech therapists are there to help seniors regain the ability to communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets and teaching special techniques to swallow safely.

As mentioned above, home care is distinctly different from home healthcare, but there is some overlap – so while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical home care, there are personal care services that may be covered in special circumstances – such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing.

Read our guide to Medicare and Home Care Coverage for more information.

While the above programs can be a great way to make home care affordable for many people, they are not the right solution for everyone. Thankfully, there are other ways to make home care more affordable for you and your family. For more information about your other options, read our section on Other Ways to Pay for this guide.

Seniors in the Old Line State can take advantage of various free resources thanks to local nonprofit groups and state and federal funding. Many programs are available starting at age 60, regardless of your income or other criteria.

In September 2021, Maryland’s governor announced a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for home care workers. These requirements predate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccination mandates required for home care agencies that accept Medicare or Medicaid. Statewide rules for COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment remain in effect, and the latest regulations do not replace them. Home care agencies must maintain their own policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This information is current as of April 2022 but may be subject to change. For the latest updates on what home care agencies are doing to protect you from COVID-19, contact Maryland Access Point or your Area Agency on Aging.

In Maryland, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene distributes licenses to home care agencies. Agencies must provide a business plan and other documentation before the state can approve their application. It may require a certificate of need for applicants to start or expand a home health agency.

Whether you are looking for yourself or a loved one, finding a quality home care provider can be a stressful process. To help you overcome this challenge, we’ve created a helpful checklist below that can help guide you through the process of both determining your needs, and finding a home care agency that will be the best fit for you and your family.

Download PDF Here

Learn More About Home Care in Maryland’s Top Cities

• Baltimore
• Bethesda
• Bowie
• Easton
• Gaithersburg
• Rockville
• Silver Spring
• Towson