March 10, 2026
When most people think about long-term care, they picture a stranger arriving at the door. But for many families, the most natural caregiver is already there — a daughter, son, spouse, niece or sibling who steps in out of love. What fewer people realize is that with the right long-term care insurance plan and a bit of preparation, that family member may be able to get paid for the care they provide.
At ACSIA Partners, this is a conversation we have often. One of the most common objections we hear from prospective clients is: “I don’t need a policy — my family will take care of me.” And that may very well be true. But what if your long-term care plan could actually support your family caregiver — including helping replace some of their lost income? That changes the conversation entirely.
The Myth: “My Family Will Handle It”
Relying on a family member for care is a deeply human instinct. But caregiving is also physically demanding, emotionally exhausting, and financially costly for the person providing it. Adult children who step back from the workforce to care for a parent often sacrifice wages, retirement contributions, and career momentum. Without a plan, that goodwill can quietly turn into financial strain, burnout … and the unspeakable – resentment.
A well-designed long-term care insurance policy doesn’t eliminate family caregiving — it strengthens it. Some policies include provisions that allow benefits to flow directly to a qualifying family member who serves as a paid caregiver, helping offset the income they give up to be there for you.
Two Paths to Getting Your Family Caregiver Paid
Depending on the policy design and your state’s requirements, there are generally two routes a family caregiver can take:
- Part-time care without licensure: Some long-term care policies will pay a family member for part-time caregiving without requiring them to hold a formal CNA or HHA credential. This is often facilitated through a policy’s care coordination or informal caregiver benefit and is predicated on professional care services also providing services a minimum number of days a week. It’s a meaningful option for families who want flexibility without committing yet to full-time professional care services or for the caregiver to commit to a full certification program.
- Becoming a licensed CNA or HHA: For family caregivers who want to take a more active, ongoing role, earning a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Home Health Aide (HHA) credential opens additional doors. Once licensed and employed by a home care agency, policy benefits can more readily be used to compensate them at a professional rate.
What Does CNA or HHA Certification Actually Involve?
The process is more accessible than most people expect. Here’s a general overview of what’s involved nationally, keeping in mind that requirements vary by state:
- HHA certification: Federal guidelines require a minimum of 75 hours of training, including classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience. Many programs can be completed in as little as 3 to 8 weeks. Program costs typically range from $400 to $1,200 depending on the state and provider.
- CNA certification: Programs generally run 4 to 12 weeks and involve 75 to 150 hours of combined classroom and clinical training. Total all-in costs — including training, exam fees, background check, and supplies — typically range from $1,300 to $3,100, with community college programs often at the lower end of that range.
To find state-approved programs near you, cnalicense.org maintains a state-by-state directory of nurse aide registries with verification tools and links to each state’s approved training programs. This is a useful starting point for any family member considering the licensing path.
The Role of Top Home Care Agencies
This is where strategy and relationships really matter. The best national home care agencies don’t just send professionals to your home — they also offer family member training to help loved ones assist between professional aide visits. They can help you prepare your home for future caregiving needs, advise on safety modifications, and provide the clinical oversight that keeps everyone protected.
Some of those agencies go a step further: once a family member completes their licensure, the agency may employ them directly. When a family caregiver is employed by a licensed home care agency, it creates a cleaner pathway for long-term care insurance benefits to flow as compensation for their work — helping replace at least some of the income they’ve set aside to be there for you.
We encourage clients to align with a top-rated local home care agency early in their planning process — well before care is needed. Having that relationship in place means your family caregiver will receive proper training, ongoing supervision, and the professional backing that makes the entire caregiving arrangement more sustainable.
A Smarter Approach to Long-Term Care Planning
Too often, families default to Medicaid as a fallback plan — assuming that if they need care, the government will cover it. But Medicaid eligibility typically requires spending down most of your assets first, and it offers limited choice over where and how you receive care. Planning proactively with a long-term care insurance policy keeps you in control: of your care setting, your caregivers, and your legacy.
More importantly, a thoughtfully designed LTC policy doesn’t have to be in tension with your desire for family involvement. It can actively support it.
How ACSIA Partners Approaches This Conversation
At ACSIA Partners, our long-term care planning specialists take time to understand the full picture before recommending any solution. That means listening to how you envision your care, who you see being involved, and what matters most to you and your family. From there, our certified long-term care planning specailists design a custom plan that aligns with your desires, needs, and budget.
For clients who want to build a family caregiving arrangement into their plan — whether through informal benefits, a licensed family caregiver, a partnership with a local home care agency, or an insurance plan that includes concierge caregiving resources — we have the expertise and product portfolio to make it work. ACSIA Partners includes within its portfolio of long-term care planning solutions options specifically designed to accommodate family caregivers, from training support through care coordination benefits to formal compensation once licensure is achieved.
If you’ve been putting off long-term care planning because you assumed your family would simply take care of things, we invite you to think about it differently. Your family can still be your caregiver or supervise instead. A good plan just makes sure they’re supported, trained, and compensated for doing it.
Ready to explore your options?
Connect with an ACSIA Partners long-term care planning specialist today for a no-obligation conversation about building a plan that works for your whole family.
Denise Gott, MBA, CLTC®, is CEO of ACSIA Partners LLC, the nation’s largest independent brokerage and industry leader with over 50 years’ experience specializing in long-term care insurance dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of long-term care planning. Contact us for more information about protecting your retirement and preserving your peace of mind.