Pricing

Costs vary based on the services you need. We charge a flat 17% rate for self-managed care and a 20% rate for fully managed care. During your free care assessment and consultation with The CareSide, your Care Manager will develop an individualised care plan with you and provide a budget for required services. 

We developed proprietary software to streamline our administrative processes wherever possible. This means we don’t need to charge exorbitant fees to cover our operating costs and can pass those savings back to you. To learn more about how we keep our rates low without compromising the quality of our services, click here.

No, you are not locked into a contract. We are a flexible service, meaning you can receive as much or as little care as you like on the days and times that you choose. We do ask you to sign an agreement that details how your care services are delivered. This is legally required by The Aged Care Act. You can cancel your agreement at any time without penalty or any exit fees.

No, we do not charge daily basic fees.

The government asks for income-tested fee contributions from people who can afford them to make the system sustainable for all Australians. That’s why income-tested fees (ITFs) are different for everyone—they’re based on individual incomes and capped on an annual and lifetime basis. 

Not everyone has to pay income-tested fees, but if you do, it goes directly toward your care. Although the Australian Government determines ITFs and their amounts, your home care package provider collects them on behalf of Services Australia. In other words: income-tested fees are not charged by your home care provider. There is a fee estimator on the My Aged Care website which can help you ascertain whether you will be required to pay an income-tested fee. Learn more about income-tested care fees.

Once your Home Care Package is approved, you will submit income and asset details to Services Australia so they can complete their means-tested assessment. If Services Australia determines that you are a candidate to contribute income-tested fees, they will notify you and your home care provider via mail. This communication includes the date for which the income-tested fee has been applied; in most cases, the fee is backdated to the date the Home Care Package was approved. Generally, it takes Services Australia 6-12 weeks to complete their determination. 

At The CareSide, we will inform you immediately via your preferred method of communication and request to commence payments at your preferred frequency (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) via direct debit. Alternatively, you can opt for monthly invoicing, in which case The CareSide will invoice in arrears at the beginning of every month. If a back payment is required, you will be contacted to confirm your preferred payment—either lump sum payment or payment plan.

Remember: Income-tested care fees go directly toward your care, and they are not charged by your home care provider. Your provider simply collects them on behalf of Services Australia. 

Whether you can retain your CHSP funding is up to the discretion of the CHSP provider. However, for social support, CHSP funding often continues, as specified by My Aged Care:

“Clients on a Level 1 to 4 package who have transitioned from the CHSP may continue to access their existing CHSP social support group on an ongoing basis to allow the continuity of social relationships. This only applies to clients attending a pre-existing CHSP social support group service.”

Every Home Care Package requires an approved provider (such as The CareSide) to oversee the package. Your provider is legally required to host your package funds and ensure that your care planning and spending comply with your package, which includes developing, tracking and adjusting your budget. (Note: The government has strict rules regarding what Home Care Package funds can and can’t be used for. If you’re unsure, discuss with your Care Manager or consult the Home Care Packages manual via My Aged Care.)

With a fully managed plan, the provider takes care of all the necessary tasks on your behalf, such as budgeting, coordinating care, recruiting and training your staff, scheduling services, and modifying your plan should your care needs change. Under a self-managed plan, all those tasks become your responsibility: you’ll have to ensure your carers have the necessary compliance documents (insurance and police checks) while also devoting significantly more time and energy to administrative tasks that would otherwise be handled for you under a fully managed plan. That includes checking invoices against the budget you’ve created, as well as finding replacement staff when your carers go on leave or are unwell. 

Remember, whether you self-manage your package or choose a fully managed plan, you’ll still maintain choice and control over your support workers, schedule, spending, and care.