What in-home care costs, and how families pay for it.
Nobody likes asking this question first. Ask it first anyway — it saves everyone time, and we would rather be straight with you about it.
We will give you real numbers on the phone.
The four ways this usually gets paid for
Care is priced by the hour against the written care plan, so the total depends on how many hours you need and what kind of care those hours involve. There is no package price, and we will not quote you one without seeing the situation.
- Private payMost common
- Paid directly by the family, usually monthly. The simplest route and the fastest to start, because it does not wait on anyone's approval.
- Long-term care insuranceAsk us about your policy
- Many long-term care policies cover in-home personal and companion care. Policies differ widely on daily limits, elimination periods and what counts as a qualifying need. Bring the policy to the consultation and we will read it with you.
- Veterans' benefitsAsk us about eligibility
- Some veterans and surviving spouses are eligible for benefits that can be put toward in-home care. Eligibility is determined by the VA, not by us, but we can tell you where to start and what they will ask for.
- Medicaid and MedicareDepends on the service
- Medicare generally covers short-term skilled care following a hospital stay rather than ongoing non-medical help at home. South Dakota Medicaid runs home and community-based programmes with their own eligibility rules. Call and we will tell you which is worth pursuing.
Rates and what we can bill against are confirmed at the consultation. If a route is not open to you, we will say so rather than let you chase it.
We bill Medicare, Medicaid, and 26+ commercial plans
Getting credentialed with this many networks takes years, and it is the practical difference between care starting next week and a bill you did not expect. If your plan is on this list, call and we will check your benefits before anyone visits.
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Private insurance
- Private pay
Commercial plans we bill
- Sanford Health Plan
- Avera Health Plans
- Wellmark BCBS
- BlueCross and BlueShield
- UnitedHealthcare
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Humana
- Medica
- HealthPartners
- DAKOTACARE
- TRICARE
- TriWest
- CHAMPVA
- Optum
- Magellan
- MultiPlan
- Midlands Choice
- PreferredOne
- First Choice of the Midwest
- Horizon Healthcare
- Community Care Network
- ChoiceCare Network
- Beacon Health Options
- TLC Advantage
- ACI Specialty Benefits
Plan list per our South Dakota Dakota At Home listing. Coverage still depends on your specific policy and the care ordered — we will confirm both at the free consultation.
What families ask about money
What determines the cost?
Three things: how many hours a week, what kind of care those hours involve — companion care and skilled nursing are not priced the same — and whether any of the hours fall overnight, at weekends, or on holidays.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Ask us at the consultation. Minimums exist in this industry mostly because very short visits are hard to staff reliably, and reliability is the thing you are actually buying.
Do we pay for the consultation?
No. The consultation is free, and there is no obligation to proceed afterwards.
What happens if our needs go up or down?
The plan is revised and the hours change with it. You are not locked into a fixed term, so care can scale up after a hospital stay and back down again during recovery.
Can we meet the caregiver before care starts?
Yes. We will arrange for you to meet the caregiver in advance. If the match is not right — for any reason, at any point — tell us and we will change it. Personality matters as much as skill in someone's home.
How quickly can care start?
Depending on the hours and the level of care, often within a few days of the consultation. Call and tell us your timeline; if we cannot meet it we will say so rather than string you along.
Do we have to sign a contract that locks us in?
No. The service agreement is designed to change as needs change, including reducing or stopping hours. You are not committing to a fixed term.
Why use an agency instead of hiring someone privately?
When you hire privately you become the employer. That means payroll taxes, and it means carrying workers' compensation insurance — without it you may be liable for an injury that happens in your home. It also means that when your caregiver is sick, you are the backup. With an agency, all of that sits with us.
Ask us the money question first.
We'll give you a straight answer on the phone before anyone visits.