You can switch home care agencies in NYC without losing your authorized care or your Medicaid hours. The key is to line up your new agency before you leave the old one, coordinate the transfer through your plan, and never cancel your current service until the new caregivers officially step in.
Done in the right order, the handoff is smooth, and your loved one never goes a day without support.
This guide walks through the exact steps, the timelines to expect, whether you can keep your aide, and your rights.
Key Takeaways
- You are not locked in to an agency you are unhappy with, as long as you follow the proper coordination steps.
- Always choose and confirm your new agency before giving notice to the old one.
- Coordinate the transfer through your MLTC care manager so your authorized hours move with you.
- Keep your current aide and agency until the new agency’s caregivers officially start.
- Medicaid or MLTC transfers usually take 1 to 2 weeks; private pay can switch in 48 to 72 hours.
- You can often keep your current aide if their agency is in-network with your plan.
Can You Switch Home Care Agencies Without Losing Care?
Yes. Switching home care agencies in New York City is a structured process you can manage without losing your authorized care or Medicaid hours. The key is sequencing: set up the new agency first, and transition only once a firm handoff date is in place.
Adults aged 60 and older and Medicaid recipients have the right to change providers through the proper channels, so a poor experience does not mean you are stuck.
Step-By-Step: How To Switch Home Care Agencies in NYC
- Choose the new agency first: Contact a prospective Licensed Home Care Services Agency (LHCSA) and confirm two things: that they are in-network with your insurance or MLTC plan, and that they have staff available to cover your exact schedule.
- Coordinate with your care manager: Tell your MLTC care manager or insurance coordinator that you want to transfer your authorized hours, and name the new provider you have chosen.
- Get the transfer date in writing: Work through your plan to set the exact handoff date. In NYC, transfers often align with the first of the month or a scheduled handover date.
- Keep your current agency until that date: Do not cancel or resign from your current agency early. Maintain services with the old provider until the new caregivers officially step in.
- Brief the new agency: Share your current care plan, medication routines, and any mobility or transfer requirements so day one goes smoothly.
Questions to Ask Before You Switch Agencies
Check off each question as you confirm it with a prospective agency.
A guide to help you compare agencies. Reset checklist
How Long Does Switching Take?
Transitions through Medicaid or an MLTC plan typically take 1 to 2 weeks. Private-pay home care can often switch in 48 to 72 hours, or faster if there is an urgent safety risk. Planning around these timelines helps you avoid any gap in care.
Can You Keep Your Current Aide?
Often, yes. If your current Home Health Aide (HHA) or Personal Care Aide (PCA) works for an agency that is also contracted with your new MLTC plan, the aide can frequently stay with you. If the new agency is out-of-network, the incoming provider may assign a new aide. Either way, a good agency carefully vets and introduces caregivers. You can read more about home health aide services in NYC.
Your Rights When Switching Agencies
Adults aged 60 and older and Medicaid recipients in NYC aren’t permanently locked into an agency that isn’t meeting their needs, as long as they follow the proper coordination channels. If you receive care through Medicaid, your Medicaid home care hours belong to you, not the agency, and can transfer with you. If you are new to the process, our guide to applying for Medicaid home care in New York explains how authorization works.
Questions To Ask Before You Switch Your Home Care Agency
Before you commit to a new agency, confirm a few essentials: Are they licensed and insured? Are they in-network with your plan? Can they cover your exact schedule now? Will you keep your aide, or how do they match and vet new ones? What backup coverage do they have, and who is your point of contact? Asking these upfront protects you from another bad fit.
Switching to All Heart Homecare
All Heart Homecare makes switching simple for families across Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. We coordinate the transfer, confirm your plan and hours, and place a vetted caregiver with no gap in care. Contact us for a free consultation, and we will handle the details so your loved one’s care never skips a beat.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Switch Home Care Agencies in NYC
How do I switch home care agencies in NYC without losing care?
Choose and confirm your new agency first, making sure it is in-network with your plan and can cover your schedule. Then coordinate the transfer through your MLTC care manager, get the handoff date in writing, and keep your current agency until the new caregivers officially start. This sequencing prevents any gap in care.
Will I lose my Medicaid hours if I switch agencies?
No. Your authorized Medicaid or MLTC hours belong to you, not to the agency, so they transfer with you when you follow the proper coordination steps. Inform your care manager that you want to move your authorized hours to the new provider, and they will arrange the transfer.
Can I keep my aide when I change agencies?
Often yes. If your current aide works for an agency that is also in-network with your new MLTC plan, the aide can frequently stay with you. If the new agency is out-of-network, the incoming provider may assign a new, vetted caregiver.
How long does it take to switch home care agencies?
Transfers through Medicaid or an MLTC plan typically take 1 to 2 weeks. Private pay arrangements can often switch within 48 to 72 hours, or faster if there is an urgent safety concern. Lining up the new agency in advance keeps the transition seamless.
How much does a home health aide cost per hour in NY?
In New York, a private-pay home health aide typically costs about $30 to $40 per hour in 2026, with many families paying around $35 per hour. Medicaid-covered home care is low-cost or no-cost for eligible people. Actual cost depends on hours, schedule, and level of care.
Can I leave a home care agency I am unhappy with?
Yes. You are not locked into an agency that isn’t meeting your needs. Adults 60 and older and Medicaid recipients in NYC can change providers through the proper coordination channels, as long as you keep your current service until the new agency officially takes over.
