Last verified: October 2026
What does in-home care cost in Maryland?
CareScout's 2025 Maryland median for a non-medical home care aide is $35 an hour, which works out to $6,673 a month at 44 hours a week; a private-duty nurse runs a median $85 an hour.
Those are statewide medians. Agencies in Baltimore often have minimum visit lengths of three or four hours, so a one-hour need may be billed as more. Overnight and live-in arrangements are priced differently again; ask for the agency's rate sheet in writing.
At how many hours does home care cost more than assisted living?
At the Maryland medians, paid home care passes the $7,173 assisted living median at roughly 47 hours a week, so above about seven hours a day the arithmetic usually favors a licensed program -- unless family covers part of the schedule.
| Hours of paid care | Approx. monthly cost at the median | Compared with assisted living |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours/week | $1,517 | Less than the $7,173 AL median |
| 20 hours/week | $3,033 | Less than the $7,173 AL median |
| 30 hours/week | $4,550 | Less than the $7,173 AL median |
| 44 hours/week | $6,673 | Less than the $7,173 AL median |
| 60 hours/week | $9,100 | More than the $7,173 AL median |
Who licenses home care agencies in Maryland?
OHCQ licenses non-medical and skilled in-home agencies as residential service agencies (RSAs) and Medicare-type agencies as home health agencies; it currently lists 1,422 RSAs in the jurisdictions we cover.
By jurisdiction: Baltimore County 740, Anne Arundel County 217, Baltimore City 174, Howard County 169, Harford County 94, Carroll County 24, Queen Anne's County 4. Check any agency on OHCQ's residential service agency directory, and ask whether caregivers are employees or independent contractors -- it changes who handles taxes, insurance and backup coverage.
Can Maryland Medicaid pay for help at home?
Yes, for people who qualify: Community First Choice and Community Personal Assistance Services pay for personal assistance at home for people with full Medicaid, and the Community Options Waiver adds services for people who need a nursing facility level of care.
Call Maryland Access Point at 844-627-5465 to start. Medicare covers intermittent skilled home health for homebound patients but not ongoing aide hours.
Is home health the same as home care?
No -- and Medicare pays only for one of them.
| Home health (skilled) | Home care (non-medical) |
|---|---|
| Physician-ordered nursing and therapy | Bathing, dressing, meals, companionship |
| Medicare for homebound patients | Private pay, LTC insurance, Medicaid programs |
| Licensed home health agency | Licensed residential service agency |
Before signing with any agency, ask for the written service agreement, the minimum hours per visit, the cancellation policy and how a missed shift is covered. Long-term care insurance policies usually pay home care through a licensed agency after an elimination period; check whether the policy requires the agency to be licensed as an RSA or a home health agency before hiring.
