Is Home Care Free? Who Pays for Support at Home
Is home care free? Mostly government-funded, but you contribute based on your means. How Support at Home costs work and who pays nothing.
The short answer
Clinical care is fully funded
Where contributions apply
How your means affect what you pay
Protections that keep costs fair
What about entry-level and hardship?
Frequently asked questions
Is home care free in Australia?
Not entirely. Home care is heavily subsidised by the government, but most people contribute based on their means and the type of support. Clinical care such as nursing is free to everyone, while everyday living supports carry the highest personal contribution.
Which home care supports are free?
Under Support at Home, clinical care is fully funded by the government and free to you, including nursing and allied health such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Cost should never be a reason to skip essential clinical care.
Who pays nothing toward home care?
Full pensioners pay the least and often nothing toward some categories, while self-funded retirees pay a higher set percentage of each service. Everyone gets clinical care free. Your contribution depends on your pension status and means.
Are there limits on what I pay?
Yes. Care management is capped at 10%, entry and exit fees are banned, and a lifetime contribution cap limits what you pay toward non-clinical care. Financial hardship assistance may help if paying your contribution would cause genuine difficulty.