Can the NHS Pay for Care Home Fees
Care home fees in the UK often exceed £1,000–£2,000 per week. If your relative is currently paying for care, the NHS may be responsible for the full cost through NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding, which is not means tested.
Many families are told they must pay for care without being fully informed about NHS Continuing Healthcare funding or whether the eligibility criteria have been correctly applied.
If a person’s primary need for care is due to health needs, the NHS can cover 100% of care costs, whether care is provided at home, in a care home, or in a nursing home.
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What Is NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is funding provided by the NHS to cover the full cost of care for individuals with ongoing, complex health needs.
Unlike local authority funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare is not means tested, meaning eligibility is based entirely on health needs rather than income, savings or property.
This means that even if a person owns their home or has significant savings, the NHS may still be responsible for the full cost of their care.
When Will the NHS Pay for Care Home Fees
The NHS will pay for care home fees where a person is found to have a Primary Health Need.
This is determined through an assessment process carried out by a multidisciplinary team (MDT), which considers the nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of a person’s needs.
Where these factors indicate that care is primarily required due to health needs, responsibility for funding rests with the NHS rather than the local authority.
Why Many People Are Told to Pay for Care
Many families are advised that they must pay for care without a full understanding of NHS Continuing Healthcare or without a thorough assessment being carried out.
In some cases:
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the CHC assessment process may not have been completed correctly
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important medical or care evidence may not have been fully considered
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care needs may have changed over time
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the Decision Support Tool (DST) may not accurately reflect the person’s needs
As a result, some individuals who may be eligible for NHS funding are incorrectly told they must self-fund their care.
If you are unsure whether the decision was correct, call 0345 548 0066 to discuss your situation
Can You Challenge a Decision to Pay for Care
Yes. If NHS Continuing Healthcare funding has been refused, it may be possible to challenge the decision.
This can involve:
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reviewing the original assessment
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analysing care records and medical evidence
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identifying where needs may have been underestimated
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submitting an appeal through the NHS process
Many families are unaware that decisions can be challenged, and that outcomes can change when evidence is properly reviewed.
📞 Call 0345 548 0066 or click here to request a call backÂ
Can You Reclaim Care Fees Already Paid
If a person is found to have been eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, it may be possible to recover care fees that have already been paid.
This is known as a retrospective claim and can apply where:
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funding should have been awarded earlier
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assessments were not carried out correctly
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the individual has since passed away
Retrospective claims can involve significant sums and require detailed evidence.
How We Can Help
Acorn Continuing Healthcare supports families at every stage of the CHC process.
We can:
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assess whether NHS Continuing Healthcare funding may apply
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prepare cases prior to assessment
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attend assessments as your advocate
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challenge funding decisions through appeals
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assist with retrospective claims
Our aim is to ensure that decisions are fair and fully reflect the individual’s health needs.
If your relative is paying for care or has been told they are not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, we can help you understand your options.
📞 Call 0345 548 0066 or click here to request a call backÂ