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Learn how Ohio Medicaid allows family members to get paid for providing home care. Compare PASSPORT, waiver, and consumer-directed options.
This guide explains how Ohio Medicaid paid family caregiver programs work, how PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, and DD waivers compare, who may qualify, and how FreedomCare helps families understand their next steps.
If you’re already caring for a parent, grandparent, or loved one at home in Ohio, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to do it without support. Thousands of Ohio families are in the same position, balancing jobs, appointments, and daily caregiving without realizing that Ohio Medicaid paid family caregiver programs could provide the financial help they need.
FreedomCare is here to help you understand your home care options in Ohio. We guide Ohio families through Medicaid waivers and programs like PASSPORT that can pay you, a trusted family member or friend, for the care you’re already providing at home.
You shouldn’t have to choose between earning a living and being there for someone you love. Through programs like PASSPORT, Medicaid waivers, and other home care options, Ohio makes it possible for paid family caregivers to receive compensation while keeping their loved one safe, comfortable, and at home.
Yes, Ohio Medicaid does pay family members to provide home care. If your loved one qualifies for certain Medicaid programs, you may be eligible to become their paid caregiver. This means you can receive compensation for the personal care, daily support, and companionship you’re already giving.
The Bottom Line: Ohio Medicaid caregiver pay can happen through PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, and DD waivers, but the right path depends on age, disability, Medicaid status, and caregiver rules.
Ohio offers several pathways to paid family caregiving, and the right one depends on your loved one’s age, health needs, and Medicaid enrollment. The main programs include the PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, and developmental disability waivers like the Individual Options (IO), Level One, and SELF programs.
We know this can feel overwhelming. That’s why FreedomCare exists. We take the confusion out of the process and help you find the program that fits your family’s situation.
Consumer-directed care, sometimes called participant-directed or self-directed care, means the person receiving care gets to choose who provides it. Instead of being assigned a stranger from an agency, your loved one can select someone they already know and trust: a daughter, a son, a grandchild, a niece, a close friend.
The Bottom Line: Ohio consumer-directed care lets the person receiving care choose a trusted caregiver, while program rules decide who can be hired and how pay is set.
In Ohio, consumer direction is available through several Medicaid programs. Under the PASSPORT program, for example, participants can hire their own caregiver through two options: Choices Home Care Attendant Service (C-HCAS) and Consumer-Directed Personal Care Service (CD-PCS). With C-HCAS, your loved one can even set the hourly pay rate within their allotted budget. With CD-PCS, the state sets the rate.
This is the heart of what FreedomCare supports. We believe that care is better when it comes from someone who genuinely knows and loves the person receiving it. Our role is to help you navigate the enrollment, paperwork, and coordination so your family can focus on what matters most, being together.
PASSPORT, which stands for Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today, is one of Ohio’s most well-known Medicaid waiver programs. It helps older adults receive the care they need at home rather than in a nursing facility.
The Bottom Line: PASSPORT is usually the best starting point for Ohio seniors 60+ who need nursing-home-level care but want to stay safely at home.
PASSPORT is designed for Ohio residents who are 60 years of age or older, or 65 and older depending on the enrollment pathway, and who need a nursing home level of care. The program provides services like personal care assistance, homemaker support, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, adult day care, home modifications, and more.
Who can be a paid caregiver? Under PASSPORT, your loved one can hire an adult child, grandchild, niece, nephew, friend, or other trusted person as their caregiver. Spouses are generally not eligible to serve as paid caregivers under PASSPORT, though Structured Family Caregiving may allow spouses under very specific conditions.
Financial eligibility: The income limit for 2025 is $2,901 per month for an individual. Asset limits and other financial rules also apply. If you’re not sure whether your loved one qualifies, FreedomCare offers a free eligibility check to help you find out.
Important to know: PASSPORT is not an entitlement program. There are a limited number of enrollment slots, and waitlists can form. The sooner you begin the process, the sooner your family can access support. FreedomCare helps families start early and stay on track.
Beyond PASSPORT, Ohio offers several other Medicaid waiver programs that support home-based care and may allow family members to be compensated as caregivers.
The Bottom Line: Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, and DD waivers may support paid family caregiving, but each serves a different population.
This program serves individuals with physical disabilities and unstable medical conditions who are between the ages of birth and 59. It provides services like personal care, skilled nursing, therapy, home modifications, transportation, and more, all delivered at home rather than in a hospital or nursing facility. Family caregivers, excluding spouses in most cases, may be hired to provide personal care services through an approved provider.
MyCare Ohio is a managed care program for individuals who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, known as dual eligibles. It provides long-term care services and support (LTSS) at home, including personal care, homemaker services, home modifications, meal delivery, and more. Participants in MyCare Ohio can self-direct their care and hire family members, including spouses, adult children, and other relatives, as caregivers through the consumer-directed option.
If your loved one is dual-eligible and lives in one of Ohio’s MyCare counties, this program may be a strong fit. FreedomCare can help you determine whether MyCare Ohio or PASSPORT is the right path.
For individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Ohio offers three additional waiver programs through the Department of Developmental Disabilities: the Individual Options (IO) Waiver, the Level One Waiver, and the Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver. These programs support people of all ages and provide services like personal care, day programs, employment support, respite, home modifications, and more. Under certain conditions, family members, including parents of minor children, may be hired as paid caregivers through an agency provider.
Enrollment in these waivers is managed through your local County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and waitlists may apply.
We know how confusing it can be to compare all of these programs side by side. This table helps you see which program might be right for your family.
The Bottom Line: PASSPORT is often best for seniors, OHCW for people under 60 with physical disabilities, MyCare for dual-eligible members, and DD waivers for developmental disabilities.
| Program | Type | Who It Serves | Family Caregiver Pay | Spouse Rules | Best Starting Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PASSPORT | 1915(c) Medicaid waiver | Seniors 60+ who need nursing-home-level care | Yes, usually non-spouse family or trusted caregiver | Generally no spouse pay, except possible SFC conditions | Area Agency on Aging |
| Ohio Home Care Waiver | 1915(c) Medicaid waiver | People birth through 59 with physical disabilities or unstable medical conditions | Yes, through approved provider arrangements | Spouses generally excluded in most cases | Ohio Medicaid |
| MyCare Ohio | Managed care for dual eligibles | People eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare | Yes, through consumer-directed options | Spouses may qualify through consumer direction | MyCare plan / Medicaid MCO |
| IO Waiver | Developmental disability waiver | People with developmental disabilities | Yes, under certain conditions | Limited and program-specific | County Board of DD |
| Level One Waiver | Developmental disability waiver | People with developmental disabilities needing limited supports | Yes, under certain conditions | Limited and program-specific | County Board of DD |
| SELF Waiver | Self-directed developmental disability waiver | People with developmental disabilities who want more self-direction | Yes, under certain conditions | Limited and program-specific | County Board of DD |
If you’re caring for a senior parent or grandparent, PASSPORT is usually the best starting point. If your loved one is under 60 and living with a physical disability, the Ohio Home Care Waiver may be the right fit. For someone with a developmental disability, the IO, Level One, or SELF waivers offer dedicated support. And if your loved one has both Medicaid and Medicare, MyCare Ohio provides an integrated approach with consumer-directed caregiving options.
The Bottom Line: Start with PASSPORT for seniors, Ohio Home Care Waiver for physical disability under 60, DD waivers for developmental disabilities, and MyCare Ohio for dual eligibility.
Still not sure? That’s completely okay. FreedomCare’s team can walk you through each option and help determine which program matches your family’s situation. There’s no cost to check eligibility, and we’re here to answer every question along the way.
Ohio Medicaid home care rules can be confusing because spouse eligibility, caregiver rules, and consumer direction vary by program.
The Bottom Line: Ohio does not have one CDPAP-style program, and spouse caregiver pay depends heavily on the program and conditions.
This is one of the most common questions we hear. The answer depends on the program. Under PASSPORT and the Ohio Home Care Waiver, spouses are generally not eligible to be paid caregivers. However, through the Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) benefit, available within PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, and MyCare Ohio, spouses may qualify under strict conditions: there must be no other willing caregiver available, and the appropriate state agency must confirm that health and safety needs can be met. Under MyCare Ohio’s consumer-directed option, spouses have broader eligibility. FreedomCare can help you understand exactly where your family stands.
Ohio does not have a program identical to New York’s CDPAP. However, Ohio’s consumer-directed options within PASSPORT and MyCare Ohio serve a similar purpose, allowing the person receiving care to choose and manage their own caregiver. FreedomCare helps families access these options.
We understand that starting this process can feel daunting. There are forms, assessments, and rules that can be hard to keep straight. But you don’t have to figure it out alone.
The Bottom Line: Ohio enrollment starts with eligibility, Medicaid status, assessment, caregiver selection, onboarding, and approved care/pay.
Here’s the general overview of what the process looks like when you work with FreedomCare.
Your loved one must be enrolled in or eligible for Ohio Medicaid. Income, assets, age, and care needs all factor into eligibility. FreedomCare offers a free eligibility check to help you understand where you stand.
You can apply online through Ohio Benefits, at your local County Department of Job and Family Services, or by calling the Ohio Benefits Consumer Helpline at 1-844-640-6446.
For PASSPORT, a pre-admission screening is conducted through your local Area Agency on Aging. A case manager will visit your loved one to assess care needs and determine whether they require a nursing home level of care. FreedomCare helps you prepare so nothing is missed.
Once approved, your loved one selects the person they want to provide care, such as a family member, a friend, or another trusted person. MyCare Ohio consumer direction may also support caregiver choice.
FreedomCare helps with paperwork, payroll setup, and required training coordination so you can start providing care and receiving compensation as quickly as possible.
Your caregiver begins providing services according to the care plan. FreedomCare manages payroll, compliance, and ongoing support so your family can focus on care, not paperwork.
Caring for someone you love is one of the most meaningful things you can do. But it’s also exhausting, emotionally draining, and often financially straining. Many Ohio families don’t realize that help is available, or they feel too overwhelmed to navigate the system on their own.
The Bottom Line: FreedomCare helps Ohio families compare programs, complete enrollment steps, set up caregivers, manage payroll, and get reliable support.
We handle the hard parts. From eligibility checks to enrollment paperwork to payroll, FreedomCare takes the administrative burden off your plate so you can focus on caregiving.
We treat you like family. Our team speaks your language, not in bureaucratic jargon, but in plain, compassionate terms. We answer your questions and walk beside you every step of the way.
We help caregivers get paid reliably. FreedomCare helps with payroll setup, compensation details, and ongoing support so there is less confusion about the process.
We’re growing in Ohio. FreedomCare currently serves the Cleveland area, including Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Medina, and Geauga counties, and we’re actively expanding so more Ohio families can benefit.
You deserve support for the care you’re already giving. Let FreedomCare help you find it.
We’ll help you understand Ohio Medicaid options, navigate programs, and start receiving compensation for the care you’re already giving.
The Bottom Line: These FAQs answer the main Ohio Medicaid caregiver questions about family pay, PASSPORT, spouse rules, waiver options, pay, and getting started.
Yes. Ohio Medicaid offers several programs that allow family members and friends to be paid for providing home care. The PASSPORT waiver is the most common option for seniors 60 and older. FreedomCare can help you determine which program is right for your situation.
Yes. Through consumer-directed options within programs like PASSPORT and MyCare Ohio, Medicaid funds are used to compensate family caregivers who provide personal care services and daily living support at home.
In most programs, spouses are not eligible. However, under the Structured Family Caregiving benefit and MyCare Ohio’s consumer-directed option, spouses may qualify under specific conditions. FreedomCare can help you understand whether your situation qualifies.
PASSPORT is a Medicaid waiver that provides homecare and community-based services to adults 60 and older as an alternative to nursing home care. It includes consumer-directed options that allow participants to choose a trusted family member or friend as their caregiver.
Ohio offers several waivers that support home-based care: PASSPORT for seniors 60+, the Ohio Home Care Waiver for ages 0–59 with physical disabilities, MyCare Ohio for dual-eligible individuals, and developmental disability waivers including Individual Options, Level One, and SELF.
Pay rates vary depending on the program, region, and level of care required. FreedomCare can help you understand the current compensation details for your specific Ohio program and service type.
Getting started is simple. Contact FreedomCare for a free eligibility check. We’ll review your loved one’s Medicaid status, walk you through program options, and guide you through every step of the enrollment process. Call 888-730-2654 to get started.
The Bottom Line: These resources help Ohio families verify program rules, understand PASSPORT, become certified providers, compare MyCare Ohio, and review DD waiver options.
Our guide explains how Ohio residents may be able to get paid as family caregivers through Medicaid programs and how FreedomCare helps families navigate the process.
freedomcare.com/how-to-get-paid-family-caregiver-ohioOhio’s Area Agencies on Aging connect older adults and caregivers with local services, resources, and long-term care support.
aging.ohio.gov/about-us/who-we-are/area-agencies-on-aging/area-agencies-on-agingThe requirements and steps to become a certified consumer-directed personal care provider in Ohio.
aging.ohio.gov/agencies-and-service-providers/certification/individual-provider-consumer-directed-personal-care-provider-1How to become a certified Choices Home Care Attendant who can provide in-home care services through Ohio Medicaid programs.
aging.ohio.gov/agencies-and-service-providers/certification/individual-provider-choices-home-care-attendant-1Ohio’s MyCare program coordinates Medicare and Medicaid services for individuals who qualify for both programs.
medicaid.ohio.gov/families-and-individuals/citizen-programs-and-initiatives/mycareohio/mycare-ohioThe Individual Options Waiver helps Ohio residents with developmental disabilities receive long-term services and supports in their homes and communities instead of institutional care.
dodd.ohio.gov/waivers-and-services/waivers/0-io-waiverThe SELF Waiver allows individuals with developmental disabilities in Ohio to direct their own services and choose caregivers who provide support in their home or community.
dodd.ohio.gov/waivers-and-services/waivers/1-self-waiverThe Level One Waiver provides limited home and community-based support services to help Ohio residents with developmental disabilities live more independently.
dodd.ohio.gov/waivers-and-services/waivers/2-level-one-waiverInformation on how Ohio Medicaid provides long-term services and supports that help eligible individuals receive care at home or in community settings instead of institutional facilities.
medicaid.ohio.gov/families-and-individuals/citizen-programs-and-initiatives/ohio-benefits-long-term-services-and-supportsThe Bottom Line: Ohio Medicaid rules, caregiver eligibility, spouse rules, income limits, waitlists, and FreedomCare availability can change.
The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or medical advice. Eligibility for Ohio Medicaid programs, including PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, and developmental disability waivers, is determined solely by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the relevant state or county agencies. FreedomCare does not determine Medicaid eligibility or guarantee enrollment in any program.
Program rules, income limits, caregiver eligibility requirements, and available services may change without notice. Waitlists may apply to certain programs, and meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee immediate access to benefits. Spouse eligibility as a paid caregiver varies by program and is subject to specific conditions established by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Ohio Department of Aging, or the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
FreedomCare currently serves select counties in Ohio and availability may vary by location. Caregiver pay rates, benefits, and program details referenced on this page are approximate and may differ based on individual circumstances, region, and program enrollment. We encourage you to verify all information with your local Area Agency on Aging, County Department of Job and Family Services, or the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
For the most current and accurate program information, please visit the Ohio Department of Medicaid at medicaid.ohio.gov or the Ohio Department of Aging at aging.ohio.gov. Nothing on this page should be construed as a promise of benefits, compensation, or program enrollment.
We’ll help you find the right program for your family.
Why Families Choose FreedomCare
We help families across Ohio every day.
We’ll help you find the right program for your family.
Why Families Choose FreedomCare
We help families across Ohio every day.
Get clear answers about PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, DD waivers, caregiver eligibility, spouse rules, and next steps.
