Private pay
Most families begin here. You choose the hours and the help you need, and pay directly — with full flexibility to start small and add support as life changes. No long-term contracts, ever.
Paying for care
Clear answers on how to pay for home care
Worrying about cost should never stand between your family and the support it needs. From private pay to long-term care insurance, Medicare Advantage and VA benefits, there are real options — and our local team helps you figure out which ones apply. We serve families across East King County (Issaquah) and North Seattle, Shoreline & Everett (Lynnwood), always with no long-term contracts.
Determining home care costs
What home care costs — and how to plan for it
In-home care typically costs less than adult day care, assisted living or a skilled nursing facility, and it keeps your loved one where they are happiest — at home. The real number depends on how many hours of care are needed each week, so the best place to start is a clear picture of that need. In a free, no-obligation in-home assessment, a SYNERGY HomeCare professional listens closely and builds a personalized plan — so you understand the cost before services begin.
Four paths to cover the cost of care
Most families pay privately, but you may be entitled to benefits that ease the cost. We will walk you through what applies to your situation.
Long-term care insurance
If you or your loved one holds a long-term care policy, it often reimburses in-home care for help with daily activities. We document the care hours and services so your benefits go to work for you.
Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare does not cover non-medical home care, but some Medicare Advantage plans include an in-home support benefit. We will help you check your plan and what it covers.
VA benefits for Veterans
Eligible Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for programs like Aid & Attendance or the VA Homemaker / Home Health Aide benefit. We help you find what applies and ease the paperwork.
Official guidance: Medicare.gov, VA Aid & Attendance, and Medicaid long-term services & supports. Coverage depends on your plan and eligibility.
Putting your policy to work at home
Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is built to cover what Medicare and traditional health insurance leave out — the everyday help people may need later in life. When someone is living with a chronic condition, a disability or a diagnosis like Alzheimer's, most policies reimburse care given in their own home.
Under most policies, benefits begin when a person needs help with at least two of the six "activities of daily living" (ADLs), or is living with a cognitive impairment such as dementia. We make those benefits easier to use — documenting the care hours and services your policy asks for, so the support you are entitled to actually reaches you.
Ask about your policyThe six activities of daily living
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Eating
- Toileting
- Transferring
- Incontinence care
Need help with two or more? Your policy may already cover in-home support. We will help you read the details and put it to use.
When a plan may cover home care
Medicare Advantage — also known as Medicare Part C — lets recipients receive their Original Medicare coverage through a private insurer of their choice. Original Medicare does not pay for non-medical home care, but some Medicare Advantage plans do, usually under a benefit called in-home support.
Because every plan is different, the coverage varies, and in-home support is often a supplemental benefit you opt into. If you are shopping for a plan, ask whether it includes in-home support for companionship, homemaker services and personal care — and let us help you weigh what fits. Plan benefits may vary; we are happy to help you navigate the options.
Talk through your optionsThe four parts of Medicare
- Part A Hospital insurance
- Part B Medical insurance
- Part C Medicare Advantage — bundles A, B and usually D
- Part D Prescription drug coverage
Already enrolled? Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about an "in-home support" benefit — then call us, and we will help from there.
Questions families ask about paying for care
Still weighing your options? Call any time — a real person from our Issaquah or Lynnwood office will help you think it through.
What determines the cost of home care?
Mostly the number of hours and the level of help needed — a few hours a week costs far less than daily or around-the-clock care. Local wage standards and any specialized training also factor in. After a free, no-obligation in-home assessment, we map out the hours your loved one needs so you know the cost before care begins.
Does Medicare or regular health insurance cover in-home care?
Medicare may pay for short-term, skilled home health after a hospital stay, but it generally does not cover non-medical help with bathing, dressing or companionship — and standard health insurance works much the same way. Long-term care insurance and certain Medicare Advantage plans are the more common ways to offset those day-to-day costs, and we are glad to help you sort through them.
Can long-term care insurance pay for home care?
Often, yes. Most policies reimburse in-home care for help with activities of daily living once a waiting period is met. Every policy differs, so we help families read the fine print and provide the documentation of care hours and services needed to activate the benefit.
Are there benefits for Veterans that help pay for home care?
Yes. Eligible Veterans — and in some cases their spouses — may access VA programs such as the Aid & Attendance pension or the Homemaker / Home Health Aide benefit. If your loved one served, we will help you understand what applies and coordinate the paperwork.
Do you require a long-term contract?
Never. Care flexes as needs change — start with a few hours, add support when you need it, and adjust any time. Both of our local offices, in Issaquah and Lynnwood, work the same way.
Let's find the home care solution that's right for your family.
Call today for a free, no-obligation in-home consultation.