Costs and payment
Home health care costs depend on the care model, payer, visit length, and whether the need is skilled clinical care or non-medical personal care. Use this page as a starting point before calling agencies.
Reviewed
Describe the same tasks, visit length, days and requested start date to each branch. Ask whether the quote is for personal assistance, a skilled visit or a longer nursing shift; those prices describe different services.
A Texas license category is not a promise that your plan will pay. For Medicare home health, confirm current Medicare certification and the ordered care with the agency; for Medicare Advantage or Medicaid managed care, check your specific plan and any authorization separately.
Request the billing unit, minimum hours, weekend or holiday charges, travel or assessment fees, deposits and cancellation terms. Ask what is excluded and how long the quote remains valid. Compare the total for the same week, rather than an hourly rate alone.
Print this page using your browser's Print command, or choose Save as PDF. Use the blank columns for two or three agencies and fill them in by hand. Ask each branch about the same schedule. Keep private care details in your own notes.
| Question to ask | Agency 1 | Agency 2 | Agency 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency and branchBusiness name, branch phone and license/category checked | Blank notes for Agency 1: Agency and branch | Blank notes for Agency 2: Agency and branch | Blank notes for Agency 3: Agency and branch |
| Exact addressDoes this branch currently accept the address? Record the answer, not a directory tag. | Blank notes for Agency 1: Exact address | Blank notes for Agency 2: Exact address | Blank notes for Agency 3: Exact address |
| Services and scheduleTasks, visit length, days and hours used for this quote | Blank notes for Agency 1: Services and schedule | Blank notes for Agency 2: Services and schedule | Blank notes for Agency 3: Services and schedule |
| Start date and backupEarliest confirmed start; replacement plan if staff are unavailable | Blank notes for Agency 1: Start date and backup | Blank notes for Agency 2: Start date and backup | Blank notes for Agency 3: Start date and backup |
| Payer confirmationSpecific plan/network, authorization needed and who confirmed it | Blank notes for Agency 1: Payer confirmation | Blank notes for Agency 2: Payer confirmation | Blank notes for Agency 3: Payer confirmation |
| Written quoteRate, hourly/per-visit/per-shift basis and written quote reference | Blank notes for Agency 1: Written quote | Blank notes for Agency 2: Written quote | Blank notes for Agency 3: Written quote |
| Minimum hoursMinimum visit length, weekly hours or minimum charge | Blank notes for Agency 1: Minimum hours | Blank notes for Agency 2: Minimum hours | Blank notes for Agency 3: Minimum hours |
| Additional chargesWeekend/holiday, travel, assessment, supplies or deposit | Blank notes for Agency 1: Additional charges | Blank notes for Agency 2: Additional charges | Blank notes for Agency 3: Additional charges |
| Cancellation termsNotice period, missed-visit charges and schedule changes | Blank notes for Agency 1: Cancellation terms | Blank notes for Agency 2: Cancellation terms | Blank notes for Agency 3: Cancellation terms |
| Comparable weekly totalSame schedule for each agency; record exclusions and amount you would pay | Blank notes for Agency 1: Comparable weekly total | Blank notes for Agency 2: Comparable weekly total | Blank notes for Agency 3: Comparable weekly total |
| Source and dateAgency representative or quote URL/reference, call date and quote expiry | Blank notes for Agency 1: Source and date | Blank notes for Agency 2: Source and date | Blank notes for Agency 3: Source and date |
Costs vary by skilled care versus personal care, visit length, payer, and agency policies. Always ask for a written rate sheet and confirm whether the agency accepts the payer you plan to use.
Rates can depend on care complexity, schedule, location, staffing availability, and payer requirements, so many agencies quote after a care assessment.
A directory listing or license is a starting point. Confirm the exact address, staffing, services and payment arrangements directly with the branch and payer.