This article discusses Contiuning Healthcare Funding and when it may apply to your care situation.
As the cost of care increases, reaching around £1,600 per week for residential dementia care, the financial burden of paying for care and protecting life savings is a real concern for families supporting loved ones with long term health needs. It can be a daunting and emotional journey, especially when you can be given conflicting information from different health professionals. Many people are unaware of funding available from the NHS, called Continuing Healthcare Funding.
What is NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding?
NHS Continuing Healthcare funding (CHC funding) is a package of care provided by the NHS for individuals with significant and ongoing health needs. This can be received in any setting outside of hospital including your own home, residential care homes or nursing homes. CHC funding is not means-tested and covers care costs in full.
Who is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding?
To be eligible for NHS CHC funding, it must be established that your need for care is a ‘primary health need’ and not a social care need. If you have a primary health need, your care needs will be above what the local authority can be expected to meet. In addition, the CHC assessment process will consider how complex, intense and unpredictable your needs are. CHC funding ensures that individuals with significant healthcare needs receive the necessary support and care they require, without the added stress of financial constraints.
Myths surrounding Continuing Healthcare
There are many misconceptions surrounding Continuing Healthcare. These are some of the most common:
- Continuing Healthcare is not means-tested: it does not matter what your income is, whether you have savings or own your property.
- Eligibility is not based on a medical diagnosis, but on assessment of your health needs across key domains such as cognition, behaviour and mobility.
- Continuing Healthcare Funding can be provided in any setting, including your own home. You do not need to move to a nursing home to receive funding.
How do I apply for Continuing Healthcare Funding?
The process for obtaining NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is outlined in the ‘National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care’ published by the Department for Health & Social Care.
The application process typically involves a two-stage process:
- Initial Checklist assessment – which is used to identify individuals who may require a full Decision Support Tool (DST) assessment. The checklist assessment is a screening tool that covers a range of health needs across various domains, which are assessed on an A, B and C scoring system.
- Full Assessment (Decision Support Tool ‘DST’) – this will be completed by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) comprising various healthcare professionals, who will use the DST assessment to examine the individual’s needs across 12 domains.
The outcome of the assessment should be communicated within 28 days. If you disagree with the decision made by the NHS, an appeal can be made through the formal appeal process. Talking to a Continuing Healthcare Specialist Advisor may help you understand if you or or your loved one may be entited to this funding – and guide you through the process of formally challenging a decision to deny funding.