How ALTCS can help pay for non-medical home care in Arizona is an important question for families exploring affordable long-term support options. Caring for a loved one at home can be both rewarding and challenging. Fortunately, the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) offers financial assistance to eligible residents, helping cover the cost of vital non-medical services.
This support helps people stay independent while getting personal help with daily tasks. They can do this from the comfort of their own home.
What is ALTCS?
ALTCS is Arizona’s Medicaid program designed to provide long term care services to residents who are elderly, physically disabled, or developmentally disabled and require a nursing home level of care. ALTCS is different from traditional Medicaid.
It focuses on long-term support. This includes home and community-based services. These services help people stay in their homes instead of moving to nursing facilities or care homes.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for ALTCS, applicants must meet both financial and medical requirements:
- Financial Eligibility: As of 2025, the income limit for a single applicant is $2,901 per month, with countable resources not exceeding $2,000. For married couples, the limits are higher. Certain assets, like a primary residence and one vehicle, may be exempt.
- Medical Eligibility: Applicants must demonstrate the need for a nursing home level of care, which includes assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility.
Non-Medical Home Care Services Covered by ALTCS
ALTCS covers a range of non-medical services aimed at supporting individuals in their daily lives:
- Personal Care Services: Assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, and other personal hygiene tasks.
- Homemaker Services: Help with household tasks like cleaning, laundry, and meal preparation.
- Respite Care: Temporary relief for primary caregivers, allowing them to rest or attend to personal matters.
- Adult Day Care: Structured programs providing social activities and supervision during the day.
- Transportation Services: Assistance with getting to medical appointments or community activities.
These services are designed to enhance the quality of life for individuals and provide support to their families.
The Application Process
Applying for ALTCS involves several steps:
- Initiate the Application: Contact ALTCS at 888-621-6880 or visit the Health-e-Arizona Plus website to start the application.
- Financial Interview: Provide documentation of income, assets, and expenses.
- Medical Assessment: Undergo an evaluation to determine the level of care needed.
- Approval and Enrollment: If eligible, choose a program contractor (managed care organization) to coordinate services.
The entire process can take 45 to 60 days, so it’s advisable to apply as early as possible.
Click to read: A How To Guide to ALTCS Applications
Utilizing a Miller Trust
If an applicant’s income exceeds the income limit, they may still qualify for ALTCS by establishing a Miller Trust (also known as an Income-Only Trust). This legal arrangement allows excess income to be directed into the trust, effectively reducing countable income for eligibility purposes.
Choosing Home Care Agencies
Once approved, individuals can select from various home care agencies contracted with ALTCS to provide services. These agencies offer trained caregivers who assist with daily tasks, ensuring that clients receive quality care tailored to their needs. It’s important to choose an agency that aligns with the individual’s preferences and requirements.
Benefits for Family Members
ALTCS not only supports individuals in need but also offers relief to their family members who often serve as primary caregivers. By covering services like respite care and personal assistance, ALTCS alleviates the physical and emotional burden on families, promoting better overall well-being.
Why Non-Medical Home Care Matters
Non-medical personal care services play a crucial role in the lives of many Arizona residents who prefer to remain in their own homes rather than transition to a nursing home or group home. These services focus on assisting with essential activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, mobility, and meal preparation. While they don’t replace medical services, they support individuals with chronic conditions, disabilities, or age-related limitations in maintaining a higher quality of life.
For many families, the biggest advantage is peace of mind. Knowing that a loved one receives consistent, professional care at home helps reduce stress and allows family members to be present as spouses, children, or siblings—not just as caregivers. This kind of support can delay or even prevent the need for placement in a skilled nursing facility, which is often more expensive and less preferred by the individual.
Home care agencies like Home Care Powered by AUAF make it possible for families to honor their loved ones’ wishes—to age or heal comfortably at home, while receiving high-quality, ALTCS-funded support.
How Home Care Powered by AUAF Can Help
Navigating the Arizona Long Term Care system can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Home Care Powered by AUAF, we proudly work with all ALTCS program contractors to provide high-quality, non-medical personal care services for individuals who qualify for Medicaid-funded long term care services.
Whether your loved one needs assistance with daily living, help after returning home from a hospital stay, or regular support through respite care, we offer compassionate, dependable care that keeps clients comfortable, safe, and independent in their own homes.
We are one of Arizona’s trusted home care agencies, and we understand how to align your care plan with ALTCS benefits—including setting up services that match your level of care and guiding you through the application process if needed.
Contact Us Today
If you or a family member needs support at home, or you have questions about how ALTCS can help pay for non-medical home care in Arizona, we’re here for you.
Call us today at (623) 526-6367 to speak with our experienced team.
Let Home Care Powered by AUAF be your partner in care, so you and your loved ones can focus on living well.
