One of the first questions families ask about private pay care is what it costs. It’s a fair question — and it deserves a straight answer, not a sales pitch. At StarCare, pricing is based on the type of service, the number of hours, and how often care is needed — not on a rigid insurance formula. You pay for the care your family actually receives, at the frequency your situation actually requires.
Unlike insurance-based home health — where approvals, denials, visit caps, and re-authorizations create constant uncertainty — private pay is transparent from day one. You’ll know exactly what to expect before care begins.
Every private pay care plan is built from a few key variables:
Type of care needed — Skilled nursing, personal care, companion care, therapy, or private duty nursing each carry different rates, based on the level of clinical skill required.
Number of hours or shifts per week — From a few hours of companion care to full 24-hour coverage, hours are the primary driver of cost.
Daytime, overnight, or 24-hour coverage — Overnight and round-the-clock care involve shift rotation and higher staffing intensity.
Short-term respite versus ongoing care — A one-time afternoon of relief is priced differently than a standing weekly schedule.
Level of clinical complexity — Ventilator care, wound management, and post-surgical recovery require higher-skill nurses and may carry a different rate.
Frequency and consistency — Regular weekly hours are often more cost-effective than sporadic, on-demand scheduling.
Because there’s no insurance approval process, there are also no surprise denials and no hidden restrictions — the plan you agree to is the plan you get.
The single biggest cost risk in home care isn’t the hourly rate. It’s what happens after you’ve signed with a lower-priced provider:
Hidden fees for supplies, documentation, or weekend visits.
Rate increases after the first 30 days once you’re locked in.
Cancellation penalties for reducing hours or ending care.
Minimum-hour requirements that force you to pay for time you don’t need.
Last-minute shift cancellations with no replacement caregiver — leaving you without coverage you already paid for.
StarCare’s private pay model avoids all of these. There are no surprise charges, no penalties for adjusting hours, and no rigid contracts designed to trap families. You get a clear rate, a clear schedule, and the flexibility to scale up or down as your situation changes.
Here’s what most cost comparisons miss: home care isn’t just an expense — it’s a substitute for much larger expenses.
Consider what happens when a family delays care:
One hospital readmission — often $10,000–$15,000+ per stay.
One emergency room visit — frequently $1,500–$3,000.
One fall with a hip fracture — tens of thousands in surgery, rehab, and long-term care.
Nursing home placement — $7,000–$10,000+ per month in Texas, often much more in metropolitan areas.
Assisted living — $4,000–$6,000+ per month, and rising.
Against those numbers, a few hours of private pay care per week is not a luxury — it’s preventive spending. It’s what keeps someone safely at home instead of cycling through hospitals and facilities. For most families, the question isn’t “can we afford private pay care?” — it’s “can we afford what happens without it?”
Insurance-based home health has real limits:
Visit caps — often 2–3 therapy visits per week, even when more are clinically needed.
Eligibility rules — patients must typically be “homebound” or meet strict clinical criteria.
Long authorization waits — days or weeks before care begins.
Coverage gaps — companion care, overnight support, and respite are rarely covered.
Re-certification hurdles — ongoing care can be interrupted by paperwork, not clinical need.
Private pay removes those barriers entirely. It’s the only model that gives families:
Immediate start — often within hours.
Full flexibility — every service type, every hour, every shift.
No eligibility restrictions — no homebound requirement, no waiver waitlists.
Continuity — care continues as long as it’s helping.
Transparency — one clear rate, no denial letters.
For many families, private pay isn’t more expensive than insurance-based care — it’s more honest. You pay for exactly what you need, without losing weeks to approvals.
Private pay doesn’t have to mean paying entirely out of pocket. Many families reduce their net cost through:
Long-term care insurance — Most policies reimburse private pay home care; StarCare provides documentation for claims.
VA benefits — Veterans may qualify for Aid and Attendance or other VA programs that help fund in-home care. StarCare coordinates with VA case managers.
HSA and FSA accounts — Home care for a qualifying dependent may be payable with pre-tax dollars.
Medical expense tax deductions — In many cases, home care qualifies as a deductible medical expense.
Family cost-sharing — Siblings and relatives often split private pay costs, which is far simpler than managing reimbursements through an insurer.
Combining insurance and private pay — Many families use Medicare for skilled nursing, then add private pay for the hours insurance won’t fund.
Our team helps families navigate these options during the free consultation — so you know exactly what your out-of-pocket cost may look like.
StarCare Home Health & Hospice has served West Texas and Eastern New Mexico since 1997. We’re BBB accredited with an A+ rating, were named Best Home Health Care Service in Hobbs for 2026, and hold a 5-star HHCAHPS patient survey rating from CMS. But the credential that matters most on a cost page is simpler: we’ve been doing this long enough to know that families deserve clear pricing up front — not surprises after the first invoice.
Our rates are quoted in writing, based on your actual care plan. No guesswork. No pressure.
How much does private pay care cost per hour?
Rates vary by service type, hours, and time of day. We provide a personalized written estimate during your free consultation — before any commitment.
Is there a minimum number of hours per visit?
It depends on the type of care. Companion care has smaller minimums than skilled nursing. We’ll confirm during the consultation.
Do you require a long-term contract?
No. Private pay clients can adjust, pause, or end services with simple notice.
Can we use long-term care insurance or VA benefits?
Yes. We work with both and provide the documentation needed for reimbursement.
What if our needs change mid-month?
We adjust the plan — not the paperwork. Hours can be increased, reduced, or restructured at any time.
Contact StarCare for a free consultation and a clear, personalized cost estimate for your family’s needs in Odessa, Midland, Hobbs, and surrounding communities. No obligation, no pressure — just straight answers and a plan that fits your family’s real budget.
📞 Odessa: (432) 580-7707 | 📞 Hobbs: (575) 393-7007
✉️ compliance@starcareonline.com
StarCare Home Health & Hospice — transparent pricing, compassionate care, in the place they call home.
