Home Health Care in California

California's home- and community-based system is anchored by Medi-Cal — the state Medicaid program — and the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver. Together they support hundreds of thousands of Californians who would otherwise need nursing-facility-level care. This page lists every Medicare-certified provider in the state, drawn directly from the federal CMS Care Compare database. Information is refreshed monthly so the listings stay current as providers open, close, or change services. Senova lists 50 verified Medicare-certified home health agencies drawn directly from CMS Care Compare, the federal government's official provider directory. Information is refreshed monthly.

About home health care in California

Home health care brings clinical services into your home, allowing patients to recover or manage chronic conditions while staying in familiar surroundings. Most listings here are Medicare-certified, and many also accept Medicaid waivers and private long-term care insurance.

Services typically offered

• Skilled nursing visits
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech-language pathology
• Medical social services
• Home health aide assistance with daily living

Insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid coverage

Medicare covers home health when ordered by a physician, the patient is homebound, and skilled care is needed. Medicaid covers it more broadly through state HCBS waivers — eligibility, copays, and approval timelines vary by state.

Medi-Cal covers home health care through the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver program. To qualify, residents typically need to meet the financial threshold (about 138% FPL ($1,732/month for an individual in 2026)) and have a documented care need that would otherwise require nursing-facility-level care. Applications go through California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which is also the licensing authority for these providers.

California Medicaid & eligibility deep dive

Eligibility for Medi-Cal

To qualify for home health care under Medi-Cal, applicants generally need to meet two criteria: financial eligibility and a documented care need. Financial eligibility is based on income — typically 138% FPL ($1,732/month for an individual in 2026) — and on countable assets, usually capped around $2,000 for an individual (with separate rules for spouses). The care-need test typically requires a level-of-care assessment showing the applicant would need nursing-facility-level care without home- and community-based support.

The Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver program

California's primary vehicle for home health care coverage is the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver. Covered services typically include skilled nursing visits, physical and occupational therapy, home health aide hours, medical social services, durable medical equipment, and respite for family caregivers. Some recipients qualify for round-the-clock personal care assistance — coverage levels vary by assessed need.

How to apply

1. Complete the Medicaid application through California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) (www.dhcs.ca.gov/), by phone, in person at a local office, or through healthcare.gov.
2. Provide income documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, Social Security benefit letters), bank statements, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.
3. Once enrolled in Medicaid, request a long-term services and supports (LTSS) assessment to determine eligibility for the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver.
4. If approved, you can choose any participating home health care provider — the ones listed below all accept Medicaid where they have contracts.

Application timelines vary: Medicaid itself can be approved in 30–45 days for most applicants, while waiver enrollment may take 60–180 days due to assessments and waitlists. Some California regions have shorter waitlists than others — typically urban metros move faster than rural counties.

California home health care by the numbers

• 50 verified Medicare-certified home health agencies across California.
• Sourced from CMS Care Compare (Medicare's official provider database), refreshed monthly.
• Medi-Cal is California's primary public payer for home health care.
• Average wait time to start care varies — urban metros generally start within 7–14 days; rural counties may take 30+ days.

How much does home health care cost in California?

Costs are 2026 estimates. Verify with the specific provider before scheduling.

How to choose a home health care provider

When you compare home health care providers, focus on five things: (1) certification status (Medicare- or Medicaid-certified for clinical care; SAMHSA-listed for behavioral health), (2) services offered relative to the specific need, (3) which insurance plans and Medicaid waivers they accept, (4) how quickly they can start, (5) patient and family reviews where available. Reputable providers explain coverage, costs, and care plans up front; high-pressure sales tactics are a red flag.

Before signing a care agreement, ask for the answers to these questions in writing: which services are billed to Medicare/Medicaid versus billed to you out of pocket; who is the primary care coordinator; how the agency handles after-hours calls and emergencies; the typical response time for new requests; and two or three references from current patients or families. Providers who refuse to share references are a yellow flag — keep looking.

Related guides

• State-by-state Medicaid & HCBS guide
• How to apply for Medicaid and HCBS waivers
• Medicare Care Compare (official source)
• CMS California Medicaid overview

What you'll find on this page

This page covers every home health care provider with a verified address in California. For a tighter view, check the city pages for specific California cities below. Click any provider's name below to view their full profile — address, phone, services, ownership, certification details, and how to contact them. Senova never charges patients or families for these listings, and providers cannot pay to appear higher on this page.

About this data

Senova is a free, independent directory of care providers. We do not run any of the agencies listed below — we surface them from authoritative federal data so you can find them faster. Our data source is the CMS Provider Data Catalog (Care Compare). If you spot outdated or incorrect information, the source dataset is publicly auditable and refreshed by the federal government on a monthly basis. To request a correction directly, contact CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE or the provider directly.