Table of Contents
Why Home Health Care Matters in Missouri
What Services Do In-Home Caregivers Provide?
Types of At-Home Caregivers in Missouri
Does Medicaid Cover Home Health Care in Missouri?
Can a Family Member Get Paid to Provide In-Home Care?
How Many Hours of Care Will Medicaid Cover?
How to Apply for Home Health Care Through Medicaid
If you’re caring for a loved one who’s aging or living with a disability in Missouri, or if you’re the one facing those challenges yourself, you’re not alone. We know how hard it is to find help you can trust, especially when you want to stay at home and avoid a nursing facility. Maybe you’ve been juggling work and caregiving, or trying to manage on your own without enough support. It’s a lot.
The good news is, you have options. Missouri’s Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet, can help cover the cost of home health care and in-home care, including care provided by someone you already trust, like a family member or close friend.
At FreedomCare, we’ve helped thousands of Missouri families just like yours. Let us walk you through what’s available, how to qualify, and how you or a loved one can even get paid as a family caregiver through the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program.
You deserve care that feels right. Let’s explore how to get it.
More and more seniors and people with disabilities are choosing to stay in their own homes as they age, and we understand why. Home is familiar, comforting, and filled with memories. But as many families in Missouri know, aging in place isn’t always easy.
Maybe your home wasn’t built with accessibility in mind, and getting around has become harder. You might be struggling to keep up with bills or basic upkeep. Or maybe you’re watching someone you love feel more and more isolated as they try to manage on their own.
That’s where in-home care makes a real difference. It allows you or your loved one to stay independent, but with the safety, support, and day-to-day help that makes life not just manageable, but meaningful. At FreedomCare, we’ve seen how powerful this kind of care can be, and we’re here to help you make it possible.
At-home caregivers can provide many important services to their patients to overcome the challenges they face, depending on the level of care that’s needed. Patients who are ambulatory and maintain adequate cognitive skills may require less assistance than others, but at-home caregivers still provide essential and valuable support to more capable individuals.
Whether you need help with a few daily tasks or more intensive support, home healthcare services can include:
Even if your loved one is still active and mentally sharp, the right caregiver can make life easier and safer at home.
In Missouri, home health care is provided by several types of professionals, depending on your needs:
Yes, Missouri Medicaid, also known as MO HealthNet, does cover home health care of all kinds. Seniors and disabled individuals who are Missouri residents and who qualify for Medicaid in Missouri will be able to receive home health care that is covered by Missouri Medicaid. There are many ways to receive home health care, and the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program is becoming one of the most popular choices for Missouri residents.
The CDS program is a way for seniors and disabled individuals in Missouri to receive home health care from an individual of their choosing in the way that they indicate. Whereas other home health care providers do not allow the patient to choose the way in which they receive care (or the individual who provides it), CDS lets the patient choose. In addition, family members of a patient are permitted to sign up as caregivers with the CDS program, meaning that the patient may receive care from a family member, and also that the family member may be reimbursed for their time they spend caregiving.
Missouri Medicaid covers the cost of medical bills as well as the cost of caregivers. As a part of the CDS program, most home caregivers make $10 per hour. Because so many families with elderly or disabled members struggle to pay the bills and provide quality care for their loved ones, the CDS program has been extremely helpful to many families and individuals alike. The CDS program allows patients to hire family members, friends, or other specified individuals of their choosing, as long as the specified caregiver is not a spouse or legal guardian.
Patients who receive care from a CDS caregiver are also able to dictate the way in which they’d like to receive care. For example, individuals with strict religious practices or dietary guidelines may appreciate the freedom and ability to communicate with their caregiver about their requirements. This may not be possible when patients receive care provided by other caregiver services on Missouri Medicaid. If the patient is unable to direct and train the caregiver, a representative may be appointed to do so on their behalf.
In addition to home health care (with or without the CDS program), Missouri Medicaid may also cover the following related expenses:
Services covered may include:
Yes, many families in Missouri are surprised to learn that Medicaid can help pay a trusted family member or friend to provide care at home. Through the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program, eligible individuals can stay where they’re most comfortable while receiving daily support from someone they know and trust.
At FreedomCare, we currently support families through two Medicaid waiver programs in Missouri: the Aged and Disabled Waiver and the Independent Living Waiver. These are the programs that allow us to help you or your loved one hire a caregiver of your choice, someone who already knows your routines, your preferences, and your personality. (Note: spouses and legal guardians are not eligible to be paid caregivers under CDS.)
With CDS through FreedomCare:
This path can be a huge relief for families already stepping in to help a loved one with bathing, meals, mobility, or medications. Instead of doing it all for free while burning out, you get real support, and real pay, for the care you’re already giving.
Important Note: Missouri offers several different waiver programs. For now, FreedomCare works only with the Aged and Disabled Waiver and the Independent Living Waiver.
If you’re not sure which waiver you qualify for or how to begin, contact FreedomCare for more information. We’re here to help you figure out the next step, every step of the way.
Read more about How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Missouri
Caregivers are paid $10 per hour under the CDS program, and all of their costs incurred are covered by Missouri Medicaid. Caregivers who work outside the CDS program are paid a minimum of $10 per hour, but may be paid more depending on their specialization or level of responsibility. While certain medications, pieces of medical equipment, or visits to the doctor or hospital may occasionally require the patient to pay a copayment or small fee, Missouri Medicaid does not require recipients to pay copayments on home health care services. Thus, there is no strict limit on the number of home care hours that Missouri Medicaid will cover.
However, it is important to keep in mind that although home health care must be covered for needy individuals, Missouri Medicaid only offers coverage of these services under certain circumstances. Seniors who are eligible to receive home health services must meet the following qualifications:
Individuals with disabilities may refer to this page for more information about the requirements for non-seniors who require home health care in Missouri.
To qualify for MO HealthNet, you must:
Certain assets like your home (if under $585,000 in value), car, and personal items don’t count toward the asset limit.
If you are not currently on Medicaid in Missouri, call 855-835-3505 for information about how to enroll.
Contact FreedomCare to check your eligibility.
After you have enrolled in MO HealthNet, you can apply for at-home services through the Missouri Division of Health and Senior Services. This process will involve a pre-screening along with a home assessment to determine the level of care and any other requirements that must be met for you to receive high-quality care.
To work with CDS, you must be willing to personally hire, train, and provide direction for your caregiver. The caregiver you choose to work with can be a friend or a relative as long as they are not a spouse or legal guardian. Our caregivers provide only non-medical care to help you do tasks that you can no longer do yourself due to disability or aging. Below are the types of tasks that your caregiver may be asked to perform:
Your caregiver (not a spouse or guardian) can help with:
You may qualify if you:
It’s a question we hear all the time, and you’re not alone if the terminology is confusing.
Home health care usually means medical services that are provided at home, like wound care, physical therapy, or monitoring vital signs. These services are typically done by nurses, therapists, or other licensed professionals.
In-home care, on the other hand, refers to non-medical help, things like bathing, cooking, light cleaning, and helping you move safely around your home. This is the type of care most people need day to day, and it’s often provided by a loved one.
At FreedomCare, we focus on in-home care through Missouri’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program, which allows you to pick someone you trust, like a daughter, grandson, or close friend, to help with daily tasks and get paid for their care.
If you’re caring for a loved one or thinking about it, this is an important question. Under the CDS program supported by FreedomCare, family caregivers in Missouri are paid $13.75 per hour, with $20.63 per hour for overtime.
And it’s not just about pay. When you partner with FreedomCare, you’re supported like family:
This depends on your loved one’s needs. There’s no strict hourly cap, but your coverage is based on a professional needs assessment.
During the process, someone from Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services will evaluate:
If you qualify, Medicaid will cover all approved care hours, and through FreedomCare, you can use those hours to pay someone you already know and trust.
Many families are surprised to learn they qualify for more support than they thought. And if you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to guide you.
Missouri offers a few different Medicaid waivers, but at FreedomCare, we currently support:
These are the only programs that allow us to help you hire and pay a caregiver you already trust, like an adult child, grandchild, or close friend.
If you’ve heard of other waiver programs, that’s great, but just know we don’t process or facilitate services through those. Not sure if you qualify for one of ours? Let’s talk. We’ll help you figure it out step by step.
We get this question a lot, especially from husbands and wives already caring for each other every day.
Unfortunately, under Missouri’s CDS program, a spouse or legal guardian cannot be paid to provide care. But here’s the good news: other family members, like adult children, cousins, siblings, or trusted friends, can.
So, if you’re a spouse doing everything you can and you’re feeling overwhelmed, we can help you bring someone else in to share the load, and make sure they’re compensated through Medicaid.
At FreedomCare, we’ve walked alongside thousands of Missouri families as they navigated the challenges of caregiving. Whether you’re a daughter caring for an aging parent or a friend helping someone with a disability live more independently, we know how emotional and overwhelming this journey can be. That’s why families across Missouri choose us, because we make things personal.
Here’s why so many Missouri Medicaid recipients trust FreedomCare:
If you’re ready to take the next step, or even if you’re just starting to explore your options, FreedomCare is here to help you find the right path forward, with care, compassion, and clarity.
Resources:
https://freedomcare.com/how-to-get-paid-as-a-family-caregiver-in-missouri/
https://mydss.mo.gov/mhd
https://health.mo.gov/seniors/hcbs/