Home Care in Wyoming

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that the cost of in-home care in Wyoming averages $5,529 per month. This type of care can help seniors with daily activities such as grooming, meal preparation and mobility. Home health care also provides services to those living at home but offers medical help, such as skilled nursing or physical therapy. Despite the additional health services provided, home health care in Wyoming also averages $5,529 monthly.

Wyoming’s home care costs are higher than the U.S. mean. Nationally, in-home care costs an average of $4,957, and home health care averages $5,148. When compared to its neighbors, Wyoming is in the middle of the range. Colorado and South Dakota are less affordable, with costs of $6,387 and $5,911, respectively, for both types of care. At $5,434, Idaho’s costs are slightly lower than Wyoming’s, and seniors in Montana pay $5,339. Nebraska’s home health care costs are also $5,339, and seniors there pay even less for in-home care, with a monthly average of just $5,148.

Seniors in Wyoming may wish to explore other senior care options to make the best choice for their needs and budget. Adult day health care is the most affordable at $1,733. Assisted living in the state is also cheaper than in-home care and home health care, with an average price of $4,169 per month. Nursing home care is the least affordable choice at $6,996 monthly, which reflects the around-the-clock skilled nursing provides.

Medicaid in Wyoming pays for limited home care directly. The state also has a waiver program that has a wider range of benefits. The Medicaid program is known as Home Care Services, and it provides nursing or therapy services to people under a physician’s plan of care. The waiver program focuses on in-home care and includes personal care, meals and transportation. Both programs are only available for people who require the specified level of care.

Community Choices Home and Community-Based Services Waiver

The Community Choices Home and Community-Based Services Waiver is generally known as CCW. It may also be referred to as the Assisted Living Facility and Long Term Care Waiver. As CCW isn’t an entitlement, there may be a waiting list to receive benefits.

The waiver is available to people aged 65 and over or those aged 19-64 who are blind or disabled. Applicants must meet financial and residency eligibility criteria and require a nursing home level of care.

The waiver is intended to delay or prevent people from entering skilled nursing facilities by providing services in the home, the home of a loved one or an assisted living facility. Seniors can access personal care, meal delivery, transport and skilled nursing through the waiver. Other resources available include respite care, fiscal management services and emergency response systems.

CCW has a participant-directed option that allows beneficiaries to be the direct employer of their caregivers. Participants who wish to take advantage of this option are responsible for hiring, training and firing caregivers. People in the participant-directed option can also hire certain family members to provide care. This includes adult children but not a spouse or legal guardian.

To apply for CCW, seniors should contact a local Benefits and Eligibility Specialist. Application forms are also available online. After receiving your application, a public health nurse will contact you to arrange a medical assessment to determine the level of care you need.

Medicaid eligibility is based on a number of factors, including your financial situation. Applicants must meet both income and asset limits that may differ based on the program.

For regular Medicaid in Wyoming, single applicants must have an income of less than $841 per month and assets of less than $3,000. Those in a two-person household can have an income of up to $1,261 per month and assets of up to $3,000. Personal belongings, burial funds, an automobile and certain other assets aren’t included when calculating Medicaid eligibility. If you live in your home, it’s also exempt as long as the equity interest is below the state limit.

Wyoming seniors can apply for Medicaid online at the web portal or by calling the Customer Service Center at (855) 294-2127. You can also obtain a paper application from the Department of Health website and return it via fax or mail.

What Information You Will Need 

To process the application, the Department of Health asks for verification of:

• Citizenship or immigration status
• Identity and date of birth
• Social Security number
• Last 30 days of income
• Assets

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

Medicaid applications can be difficult to navigate. Wyoming has a number of resources available to help you determine if you’re eligible for the program and make applying for Medicaid easier.

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.

Older adults who wish to remain living at home as they age can access a range of resources in Wyoming. Government and nonprofit organizations can help seniors access meals, financial assistance, home repairs and other services that can help seniors age in place.

Unless they qualify for an exemption, all home care and home health care providers who are certified with Medicaid or Medicare are subject to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate rule. This means that Wyoming providers must be fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These rules are current as of April 2022 but are subject to change. If you’re concerned about having a caregiver enter your home, check with your local Area Agency on Aging for the most up-to-date regulations. Your home care agency may have more stringent rules regarding vaccines or PPE use. Speaking to an agency representative can help you understand the policies and procedures your caregiver works under.

Home health agencies in Wyoming are licensed and overseen by Healthcare Licensing and Surveys, a division of the Department of Health. All agencies must comply with state regulations that are designed to ensure the health and safety of their clients.

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.

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