Rhode Island Home and Community Care Co-Pay Program

Program Description

The Rhode Island Home and Community Care Co-Pay Program is a non-Medicaid, state program that provides supportive care services, both in the home and in adult day care, that help individuals remain living in their homes. This program is similar to the Rhode Island’s Medicaid program of the same name in terms of some of the services provided. However, there are three major differences. The services/benefits available through the waiver program are more extensive, financial requirements for the co-pay program are considerably less rigid, and program participants are required to make a co-payment for the services they receive.

Eligibility Guidelines

Age – applicants must be at least 65 years of age.

Residency – applicants must be legal residents of Rhode Island. No duration of residency or waiting period exists.

Functional Need – applicants must require assistance with their activities of daily living, such as mobility, toiletry, and bathing, and be unable to leave home without a significant amount of assistance.

Financial Need – the Co-Payment Program has two levels of eligibility (called Level 1 and Level 2) that impact how much financial assistance participants receive. The Level 2 income limit is pegged at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and the Level 1 income limit at 125%.

In 2020, this means single applicants can qualify for the program if their income is less than $25,520 / year and married couples can qualify if their combined income is less than $34,480 / year. Program participants can receive a higher level of financial assistance if their annual income is less than $15,950 / year and $21,550 / year for a single applicant and married couple, respectively.

Medicaid Ineligible – the applicant cannot also be eligible and receiving services from Medicaid.  More information on RI Medicaid eligibility is here.

Benefits and Services

The types of assistance included under this program are listed below. Program participants receive between 2 to 20 hours of care assistance per week and will be charged a co-pay for any services they receive. While services are not provided free of charge, they are provided at rates considerably below the market rate. 

• Health care and personal care provided in the home
• Health care and personal care provided in adult day care
• Meals at home or in adult day care
• Light housecleaning and laundry in the home

How to Apply / Learn More

This program is administered by the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA).  To inquire about eligibility or begin the application process, one should contact THE POINT at 401-462-4444. Contact information for regional POINT agencies can be found here. Very limited program information (and outdated at the time of this writing) can be found on the State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services’ website.