New York · Plan Guide
HomeFirst is Elderplan’s Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan for New York Medicaid members who need ongoing help at home. This guide explains how home attendant hours are approved for HomeFirst members and how a licensed agency — and often the person you trust — delivers the care. Facts last reviewed October 17, 2026.
The Home Care Agency is a free enrollment matching service — not a home care agency, not a Medicaid plan, and not a government agency. Eligibility and authorized hours are always determined by the state program and your plan.
Free 60-second eligibility check Call (929) 668-3300
HomeFirst is a Managed Long Term Care plan. MLTC is how New York Medicaid organizes long-term services for adults who need help with daily activities for more than 120 days: Medicaid pays the plan, and the plan arranges the assessment, writes the care plan, authorizes services such as personal care or home health aide hours, and pays the licensed agencies that deliver them.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any health plan. Plan names are used to describe how home care works for members; always confirm benefits with the plan.
Like every New York Medicaid plan, the plan does not decide hours on its own. The state’s independent assessment measures how much help with daily activities the member needs; the plan writes the care plan and authorizes personal care or home health aide hours from that assessment; a Licensed Home Care Services Agency in the plan’s network employs the aide and delivers the care.
For families, the practical questions are two: which licensed agencies in the plan’s network serve your county, and whether the agency will hire the caregiver you already trust. We answer both for free.
New York works differently from states with cash-and-counsel programs. Here, the person your family chooses becomes a New York State–certified Home Health Aide (HHA) or Personal Care Aide (PCA) employed by the licensed agency. The agency provides the training and certification, usually at no cost to the caregiver, then handles pay, scheduling support and supervision.
By New York State rule, a spouse, parent, son, daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law cannot be the paid aide. A sibling, grandchild, niece or nephew, friend or neighbor often can. If the person you had in mind is excluded, families usually choose another trusted person or accept a certified aide from the agency. Aides must be at least 18 and legally able to work in the U.S.; eligibility for any aide is confirmed during enrollment.
We are the free navigator for the steps families otherwise figure out alone. One short quiz or one call: we ask about Medicaid status, the help that is needed and the county, explain the assessment, and connect you with a licensed, Medicaid-approved home care agency that serves your area. The service is free to families; we are paid a flat marketing fee by the partner agency.
Questions
Program facts were checked against official New York State and local government pages in a review completed October 17, 2026. We do not cite commercial websites, and we are not affiliated with any plan or agency named here. Program rules change; before making decisions, confirm with the program or ask us and we will help you check.
Answer a few questions and we connect you with a licensed, Medicaid-approved home care agency that serves your county. No cost, no obligation.
