Paying for care
Getting home care through Florida Medicaid
There is no single Medicaid home care program in Florida. Which door you use depends on age and diagnosis. Here is how to tell which one is yours and who to call first in Tampa Bay.
The short answer
Adults 65 and older, or 18 and older with a disability, who need nursing home level care apply for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program. People with a qualifying developmental disability, age 3 and up, apply for the iBudget Florida waiver through APD. Children under 21 on Medicaid get medically necessary home health through Florida Medicaid home health services.
Find your door
| Who needs care | Program | Who decides | Read next |
|---|---|---|---|
| An adult 65 or older, or 18 or older with a disability, who needs nursing home level care | Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) | Elder Affairs screens and sets medical eligibility. DCF sets financial eligibility. | Long-Term Care guide |
| A person age 3 or older with a qualifying developmental disability that began before 18 | iBudget Florida waiver | Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), plus Medicaid eligibility through DCF | iBudget guide |
| A child under 21 on Florida Medicaid who needs nursing or personal care at home | Medicaid home health: Private Duty Nursing, Personal Care Services, Home Health Visits | A prescription and prior authorization under the child's Medicaid coverage | Children's home health guide |
Who to call first in Tampa Bay
| If you live in | Long-term care: call first | iBudget: APD office |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | Senior Connection Center, through the Elder Helpline: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) | APD Suncoast Region, Tampa: (800) 615-8720 |
| Pinellas County | Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) | APD Suncoast Region, Tampa: (800) 615-8720 |
| Pasco County | Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) | APD Suncoast Region, Tampa: (800) 615-8720 |
To apply for Medicaid itself, the Florida Department of Children and Families takes applications online at myflfamilies.com and at 1-866-762-2237.
Where Aster Care fits
Aster Care is a home care agency. We do not decide who qualifies and we cannot enroll anyone in Medicaid. What we can do is explain the steps in plain words, tell you which door sounds right, and deliver the care once services are approved.
We serve Florida Medicaid recipients through home and community-based programs for aged and disabled adults and children, and through the APD iBudget waiver. Tell us which plan or waiver you have and we will tell you straight whether we can serve you under it.
- Long-Term Care Adults who need nursing home level care
- Plans and case managers Which plans serve your county
- iBudget Florida Developmental disabilities, age 3 and up
- Children's home health Under 21 on Medicaid
- Paid family caregivers When a relative can be paid
- Private pay Costs, Medicare and insurance
About this page. Aster Care LLC is a private home care agency, not a government agency. Eligibility decisions are made by the state offices named here. This is general information, not legal or benefits advice, and program rules change, so please confirm details with those offices.
Questions families ask
Is Medicaid home care the same as regular Medicaid?
No. AHCA says the Long-Term Care program is not an entitlement and does not cover doctor visits or hospital stays. It covers long-term services such as personal care, and it has limited space.
Does Medicare pay for this instead?
Medicare does not pay for long-term care. It pays for part-time skilled home health when a person is homebound and a provider orders it. Here is the difference.
Sources
- AHCA: SMMC Long-Term Care recipient FAQs
- Florida Statutes s. 409.979: Long-term care eligibility and the pre-enrollment list
- APD: Applying for Services
- APD: Suncoast Region offices
- AHCA: Developmental Disabilities iBudget Waiver
- AHCA: Medicaid Home Health Services
- Florida Department of Elder Affairs: Aging and Disability Resource Centers
- Florida DCF: Public assistance and Medicaid applications