Overview
- From November 1, everyone on a Home Care Package moves to the Support at Home scheme, with the government continuing to fund 100% of clinical care and introducing means-tested co-contributions for independence-related services such as showering.
- People on or approved for a package by September 12, 2024, have a ‘no worse off’ guarantee on out-of-pocket costs, yet advocates caution their package funds may buy fewer hours if provider rates rise.
- Provider charges for at-home services are uncapped until July 1, 2026, with industry guidance suggesting 30–38% price increases and reports of hourly rates rising as much as 40%.
- Aged Care Minister Sam Rae says all 20,000 recently released home care packages have been allocated, as about 300,000 people receive packages and roughly 200,000 wait for a package or an assessment.
- The government highlights caps on care management fees, hardship protections and a 5% co-contribution example for full pensioners, while separate changes add new non-clinical fees in residential care for many pensioners and all self-funded retirees.