Cost & Payment
What home care costs — the honest version
We don't post a single hourly rate, because the honest answer depends on your family's situation — and a number on a page would only mislead you. Here is exactly what shapes the cost, the ways families pay, and how we give you a real, specific estimate after a free visit. No pressure, no surprises.
The short version
- No single posted rate — the price is built around your plan, not pulled off a page.
- A free, in-home care plan visit turns your needs into a real number.
- What you pay depends on the hours, the level of help, and how you pay for it.
- Fully insured, and no pressure — you see the plan and the number before you decide anything.
What drives the price
What shapes your cost
There is no one price for home care because there is no one kind of care. Five things move the number more than anything else — and all of them are about your family, not us.
Hours and schedule
A few hours a week costs very differently from daily visits or around-the-clock care. Your schedule is the single biggest factor.
The level of help
Companionship, meals, and errands are priced differently from hands-on personal care like bathing, dressing, and help moving safely.
Overnights and 24-hour care
Awake overnight coverage and around-the-clock care are staffed in rotating shifts, which shapes the cost differently from daytime hours.
Ongoing or occasional
Steady weekly care and short-term respite — a few days while a family caregiver rests — are quoted differently.
How you pay for it
Minimum visits and terms vary by payment source, so how you cover the care can change the shape of the plan.
Ways to pay
How families pay for care
Paying for care is one of the most confusing parts for families — and there are more options than most people realize. These are the main ways families cover non-medical home care in South Carolina. Which ones fit your family depends on your situation, and that is exactly what we help you sort out.
Private pay
The most common route: care is paid directly by the family or from a loved one's savings. It is the simplest to set up and the fastest to start.
Long-term care insurance
Many long-term care policies help cover non-medical home care. What is covered depends on the policy, so it is worth reading yours closely.
Veterans benefits
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA benefits, such as Aid and Attendance, that help pay for in-home care.
Medicaid Waiver
For eligible individuals who need extra help with daily activities but want to remain at home, a South Carolina Medicaid waiver — such as Community Choices — may help cover non-medical in-home care services as an alternative to facility-based care.
Community Long Term Care (CLTC)
South Carolina's Community Long Term Care program arranges Medicaid in-home services — with a case manager coordinating them — so eligible people can stay home instead of entering a facility.
Community Based Program vouchers
Voucher programs — including respite vouchers through South Carolina's aging services — can help family caregivers pay an in-home agency for a break.
What Medicare does not cover: Medicare pays for short-term skilled medical home health — not ongoing non-medical or custodial help at home. If anyone tells you Medicare covers day-to-day care at home, be careful.
Minimum visit requirements vary by payment source. Not every option fits every family, and not every program works with every agency. Tell us how you are hoping to pay for care, and we will walk you through what is possible — honestly, and before you commit to anything.
How you get a real number
A specific estimate, made for your plan
No range off a website. Your estimate comes from a real conversation and a visit — and it is built around the plan we make together.
Tell us what's happening
Call or send a short request. Our care coordinator listens for what the days look like and where help would matter most.
A free in-home care plan visit
A nurse comes to the home — at no cost and no obligation — and turns routines, needs, and preferences into a written plan.
A clear estimate, then your call
We price that plan and walk you through it, line by line. You see the number before you commit to anything.
In most cases care can begin within about 72 hours of the first call, after the required intake paperwork is filed. Because the paperwork must be completed first, the exact timing depends on how quickly the family can finish that step, so it is confirmed during the care plan visit rather than promised as a fixed time.
SteadiCare Home Care, LLC carries the proper insurance coverage. Specific policy details are private and not published.
Before you call
Cost questions, answered plainly
- Does Medicare pay for non-medical home care?
- No. Medicare covers short-term skilled medical home health, not ongoing non-medical or custodial care like companionship, personal care, or help around the house. Non-medical care is paid privately or, for those who qualify, through long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, or South Carolina Medicaid programs such as a waiver, Community Long Term Care (CLTC), or a community-based voucher.
- Is there a minimum number of hours?
- Minimum visit requirements vary by payment source. We walk you through exactly what applies to your family during the free care plan visit.
- How do I get an exact price?
- Start with a free in-home assessment, where we'll get to know you, understand your needs, and determine the level of care that's right for you. From there, we'll create a personalized care plan and provide clear pricing — so you know exactly what to expect.
- How soon can care start?
- In most cases care can begin within about 72 hours of the first call, after the required intake paperwork is filed. Because the paperwork must be completed first, the exact timing depends on how quickly the family can finish that step, so it is confirmed during the care plan visit rather than promised as a fixed time.
- Why don't you list a price on the website?
- Because an honest price depends on your situation — the hours, the level of help, and how you pay. A single number on a page would either mislead you or scare you. We would rather give you a real one, made for your plan.
Get an estimate made for your family
Tell us what's happening at home, and we will start with a free care plan visit — the honest way to a real number.