There is a popular misconception that if someone is covered by Medicare, it will cover the cost for in-home care services when the need arises. However, unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Most people utilize their own private funds to pay for the care they need at home. However, for someone who is a veteran (or the surviving spouse of a veteran), you may have heard that there are certain home care benefits available. What are veterans’ home care benefits?
Benefits That Are Available to Qualifying Veterans to Cover Home Care Costs
Veterans may qualify for benefits to pay for the cost of home care if they have the following:
- A doctor’s order that verifies the need for the aid and assistance of someone else on a daily basis
- An honorable or general discharge
- Specific financial requirements that are met
- Served at least one day during an active war with no fewer than 90 days of service
The surviving spouse of a veteran may also qualify for spousal benefits.
The first step is to explore the Veterans’ Aid and Attendance program. This program helps wartime veterans and/or their spouses with covering the cost of care at home, if they meet the particular qualifications necessary to receive those benefits. The person who is applying may be eligible if they:
- Are bedridden, with their disability or disabilities requiring them to stay in bed aside from any prescribed course of treatment or convalescence, or
- Are a resident of an assisted living facility due to physical or mental incapacity, or
- Need help with performing daily activities of living, such as bathing/showering, getting dressed, eating, bathroom use, adjusting prosthetic devices, or remaining safe in their daily environment, or
- Are blind, or with corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field of 5 degrees or less
In some cases, veterans may qualify for the Housebound benefit to cover the cost for their home care needs. This benefit is paid over and above a monthly pension, and is available to veterans who meet the following criteria:
- Have one permanent disability that has been verified to be 100 percent disabling AND, as because of this disability, the person is permanently and substantially confined to the home, or
- The individual has one permanent disability verified to be 100 percent disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, verified to be 60 percent or more disabling.
Veterans cannot receive both the Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits concurrently, and they must be receiving a monthly pension to quality for either of these benefits.
At Dakota Home Care, we are honored to serve those who have served our country. We’re here to help make sure you receive all of the benefits to which you’re entitled to pay for in-home care services and to answer any questions you may have. If you or someone you love is a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran, call us at (877) 691-0015 for help with applying for veterans’ benefits and getting started with our award-winning home care services. Visit our Communities Served page to see if our services are available in your area.