Home Care Minimum Wage Increases Jan. 1, 2026

(Dec. 2, 2025) The home care minimum wage increases by another $0.55 on Jan. 1, 2026. Agencies in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester County are required to pay home care aides $19.65 per hour, and agencies in the rest of the state are required to pay home care aides $18.65 per hour.

The Department of Health (DOH) Office of Health Insurance Programs (OHIP) recently issued a reminder to various Medicaid managed care plans, including Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans: 

This applies to Medicaid Managed Care Plans (MMCP) including Partial Capitation Managed Long Term Care, Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plans. This guidance was also shared with and applies to Mainstream Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) Plans, HIV Special Needs plans (HIV SNPs), and Health and Recovery Plans (HARPs).

As a reminder to Medicaid Managed Care Plans (MMCPs), home care minimum wage increases begin January 1, 2026. As MMCPs are aware, your monthly capitated payment assumes you will be paying $0.55 more per hour of home care service beginning January 1, 2026. Consistent with prior years, it continues to be the State’s expectation that MMCPs ensure their vendors comply with state laws and regulations, including meeting the home care minimum wage.

Additional information regarding the home care minimum wage can be found here: Home Care Aide Minimum Wage Fact Sheet (P105).

The requirement applies across the board for agencies and all payor types. Please see the Fact Sheet definition of "home care aide" and instances when additional compensation is required.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org