Paying for Home Modifications in California
Traditional Medicare does not pay for home modifications even when a doctor recommends them. For pricing indications on a private-pay basis, please call us for a complimentary phone quote. For those without urgent needs and of modest means, there may be funding available depending upon the person’s health needs, insurance, military service, income, location, and housing situation. There is no single statewide home modification grant available to everyone. Some programs pay for approved work, some provide loans, and others help people find local services. Eligibility does not automatically mean a particular project will be funded.
Start with the resource that fits your situation
| Your situation | Where to begin |
|---|---|
| Veteran Service Member | Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service Department at your local VA Medical Center. Grants are available for larger projects including HISA (Home Improvement and Structural Alterations), SHA (Specially Adapted Housing) and SAH (Special Home Adaptation). |
| Medi-Cal Member | Medi-Cal members age 60 and older who meet nursing-facility level-of-care criteria may qualify for home-modification assistance through MSSP (Multipurpose Senior Services Program), HCBA (Home and Community-Based Alternatives) waiver and/or a Managed Care Plan’s CalAIM EAA Community Support, subject to program enrollment requirements, service availability, and approval of the requested modification. |
| PACE Member | Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides services to registered members within their service area (available to both Medicare and Medi-Cal members). |
| Homeowner | Utilize the equity in your home via a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) or a HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage – “Reverse Mortgage”). Local chapters of Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together may also be able to help. |
| Individual with a Developmental Disability | Regional Centers provide funding, services and resources for individuals with developmental disabilities beginning before age 18. |
| Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Holder | An existing policy may include a rider or clause which covers home modification, equipment, or alternate care benefits. Check with your insurer. |
| Medicare Advantage Member | Some plans offer home modifications as part of a supplemental benefit. Check with your provider. |
| Rural Area Resident | USDA Section 504 provides for low-interest home repair loans and grants. Grants are restricted to very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older. |
| Needs Help Finding Funding or Resources | Contact the local Area Agency on Aging, Independent Living Center or 2-1-1 Community Information and Referral Line. |
NOTE: Ask the proposed funding source about assessment, contractor, bid, and approval requirements before signing a construction contract or starting work. Do not assume a program will reimburse a project after it is completed.