Does Adult Foster Care Cost Money in Massachusetts?
Quick answer: Adult Foster Care services in Massachusetts are funded through MassHealth for eligible members. Families do not simply purchase the program at a fixed private-pay price. Coverage, caregiver approval, and payment depend on the member’s MassHealth eligibility, assessed care needs, living arrangement, and formal authorization.
How Adult Foster Care Is Paid for in Massachusetts
Adult Foster Care in Massachusetts is a MassHealth-funded service that helps eligible people receive daily support in a qualified home setting. Unlike assisted living or privately hired home care, the program is not based on selecting a package or paying an agency’s advertised monthly price.
MassHealth determines whether the person receiving care has an eligible coverage type and meets the program’s clinical requirements. An approved Adult Foster Care provider then supplies nursing oversight, care management, caregiver training, and ongoing support. The caregiver provides the approved daily assistance in the shared home.
What MassHealth Adult Foster Care May Cover
- Nursing oversight and periodic clinical review
- Care management and coordination
- Caregiver training and ongoing support
- Development and monitoring of the member’s care plan
- An approved caregiver payment based on the member’s assessed needs and authorization
The caregiver payment is intended to recognize the daily responsibilities of providing care. Through Mass Care Link, an approved caregiver may receive up to $1,520 per month, based on need and MassHealth approval. The amount is not automatic and is determined during the assessment and authorization process. Read more about how family caregiver payments work in Massachusetts.
Is Adult Foster Care Covered by Medicare?
Massachusetts Adult Foster Care is administered through MassHealth, the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program. Medicare coverage by itself does not establish eligibility for this service. Some people have both Medicare and MassHealth, but the Adult Foster Care application still requires verification of an eligible MassHealth coverage type.
Who May Qualify?
According to the MassHealth Adult Foster Care program fact sheet, eligibility generally depends on the person’s age, MassHealth coverage, daily care needs, living arrangement, and caregiver relationship. The person receiving care must generally be age 16 or older and need daily physical assistance or cueing and supervision with at least one activity of daily living.
- The member and caregiver must live together in a qualified home setting.
- The caregiver must generally be age 18 or older and able to provide the required care.
- A spouse or court-appointed legal guardian cannot be the paid caregiver.
- A parent cannot be paid through the program to care for a child under age 18.
- Eligibility and services require assessment and MassHealth approval.
Review the complete Adult Foster Care eligibility requirements for additional details.
Are There Other Household Costs?
Adult Foster Care authorization does not eliminate ordinary household expenses such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, or personal items. Individual arrangements vary, so families should ask the provider to explain what the program covers and which expenses remain the household’s responsibility before enrollment.
How to Get an Individual Cost and Eligibility Review
- Complete Mass Care Link’s quick prequalification questions.
- Allow the intake team to verify MassHealth coverage and the living arrangement.
- Describe the daily physical assistance, cueing, or supervision the person needs.
- Complete the required clinical and home assessments.
- Wait for formal eligibility and authorization before relying on any payment estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost money to apply?
Mass Care Link can explain the intake and assessment process before services begin. Eligibility and authorization are determined through the formal MassHealth process.
Can I receive payment for caring for a family member?
Possibly. A qualified caregiver who lives with an eligible member may receive an approved monthly payment. Spouses and court-appointed legal guardians are excluded, and other requirements apply.
Take the Next Step
Complete the Mass Care Link prequalification questions or call 866-880-8889. Our intake team can review the basic information and explain the next step.
Official Sources
This article provides general educational information. Eligibility, caregiver approval, payment, and authorization depend on current requirements and individual circumstances.