Which agency do I call about paying for care?
Answer three questions to see which of the four agencies fits your situation and what to ask when you call.
Is your person a veteran, or were they married to one?
Is your person on Medicaid now?
What is the money question today?
Which agency do I call about paying for care?
Start here
Area Agency on Aging- "What does this office actually help with, and what is outside what you do?"
- "Is there a wait for an assessment, and can we start that today?"
- "Who else should I be calling that I haven't thought of yet?"
- "Does this state have a program where a family member can be paid to provide care?"
- "Is that through Medicaid, or is there a separate state-funded program?"
- "Who do I talk to about getting an assessment started?"
Local agency
eldercare.acl.govMedicare coverage questions
State Health Insurance Assistance ProgramTo find yours: Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116- "Is this service covered under Part A or Part B, or not covered?"
- "Are they in Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan?"
- "Does this service need prior authorization?"
- "Does the hospital stay before skilled nursing have to meet any conditions?"
State program
shiphelp.orgMedicaid programs in your state
Your state Medicaid agencyTo find yours: Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116- "What home and community-based waiver programs does this state have for older adults?"
- "Is there a waiting list for that waiver? How long, and how do we get on it today?"
- "Does the waiver cover respite care for me as the family caregiver?"
- "Does my parent qualify for long-term care Medicaid, and is that a different application than regular Medicaid?"
- "What is the level-of-care assessment, who performs it, and how do we request one?"
- "If my parent is married, what protections apply to the spouse staying at home?"
- "Does this state offer self-directed or consumer-directed care?"
- "Under that program, can a family member be hired as the paid caregiver?"
- "Does it matter that I'm their child / their spouse / their daughter-in-law?"
- "Would I be an employee, and who handles payroll and taxes?"
State agency
medicaid.govVeteran or surviving spouse
VA (Veterans Affairs) Caregiver Support Line + a VA-accredited representativeVA Caregiver Support Line
1-855-260-3274VA benefits line
1-800-827-1000- "Is my parent eligible for a VA pension?"
- "Is there a surviving-spouse version of this benefit?"
- "Can you connect me with a free accredited representative? I don't want to pay anyone to file this."
- "Does our VA medical center run a program where the veteran gets a budget to hire family?"
- "Under that program, could I be hired and paid as the caregiver?"
Federal
va.govPaying a relative informally from the patient's money can cause Medicaid problems later. Have an elder law attorney draw up a personal care agreement first.
Your next step is to call them.
Checked July 2026. Program rules change and they differ state to state.