Busting the Myths About Switching Providers Before the 1 July Price Changes

With prices changing from 1 July, ultimately, this presents one important question – should you switch providers? Will you lose your workers? Are you about to pay more?

If your stomach tightened reading that, it’s okay, let’s take a breath. A lot of what’s being said about switching right now is half-true at best, and some of it is plain wrong. So let’s sort the myths from the facts, gently and clearly, so you can make a calm decision rather than a rushed one.

First, What’s Actually Changing From 1 July 2026?

Two different things are getting tangled together in the noise, so let’s untangle them.

Price updates are coming: From 1 July 2026, many providers will update their prices for the new financial year. That’s a normal, routine thing – it’s your provider setting its own prices, not a government price hike. And if your provider does change its prices, they must talk to you first and give you a new service agreement to sign – silent increases are simply, unacceptable.

Price caps are not coming, and won’t be in effect from 1 July: The government had planned to introduce price caps, otherwise referred to as government-set maximum prices, for Support at Home from 1 July 2026. These caps have now been deferred indefinitely: they will not take effect on 1 July 2026. For now, providers continue to set their own prices, just as they did under Home Care Packages.

One more date worth knowing: From 1 October 2026, personal care becomes fully government-funded, which means, there are no out-of-pocket costs for approved personal care – you can learn more about fully funded, Clinical Care services here.

So the honest headline is this: your prices may well change on 1 July, which makes it a moment to review your updated pricing and services and check they still meet your needs, not a moment to panic.

Compare providers side by side here.

A quick note: Aged care pricing is changing fast, and the indefinite deferral of price caps is recent. It’s important to always check the latest news on My Aged Care before making a decision, or simply, call CareAbout at 13 13 00 and we can keep you updated and informed as to your available options at present.

Myth 1: “Prices Are Jumping on 1 July, So I Need to Switch Right Now.”

The reality: Your provider’s prices may well update from 1 July, but that’s the provider adjusting its own prices for the new financial year, not a government-imposed hike, and not the price caps (which, as above, have been deferred indefinitely). If your prices do change, your provider has to discuss it with you and issue a new agreement first.

So here’s the calm next step: when your updated pricing and new service agreement arrive, read them properly. Do the prices and services still meet your needs and your budget? If they do, there’s no rush to do anything at all. If something doesn’t sit right, that’s a fair prompt to compare your options, but switch because another provider is a better fit, not because a date on the calendar is making you anxious.

Before you compare, get the real numbers. Prices vary by provider and service, and it helps to understand what makes up each Support at Home fee. The honest way to compare is side by side:

Myth 2: “There’s a Set Minimum Number of Hours I Have to Book.”

The reality: There’s no single government-set minimum shift length under Support at Home – it’s a provider policy, and it varies.

Some providers won’t send a worker for less than one or two hours, because a 30-minute visit isn’t worth the travel for the worker. Others are more flexible. Neither is “wrong,” but it matters for your budget and your day. So before you sign anywhere, ask plainly: what’s your minimum visit length, and how is travel charged?

Myth 3: “My Care Partner Will Either Hover or Disappear.”

The reality: Under Support at Home, your provider must deliver a care-management activity at least once a month, so there’s a baseline of regular contact built in. You shouldn’t be left wondering who to call.

But “at least monthly” is a bare minimum, and not a promise of how it’ll feel. Some people want a quick monthly check-in; others want a care partner who knows their story and picks up the phone. It’s a fair thing to ask a prospective provider: how often will I actually hear from my care partner, and who do I reach when something changes?

Myth 4: “If I Switch, I’ll Lose My Workers and Start From Scratch.”

The reality: Switching is far less brutal than people fear, but this one needs nuance, so here’s the honest version.

What’s protected:

• Your funding moves with you, including your unspent funds.
• There are no exit fees for leaving a provider.
• Your new provider can request your records, and the old one must hand them over within 28 days, and the old one must notify them within 28 days of your exit date of your remaining SAH quarterly budget amount. If you have HCP unspent funds, your old provider will transfer these funds to your new provider within 70 days of your exit date.
• Your services should not stop in-between switching providers. We recommend commencing services with your new provider the day after your exit date from your old provider.

What’s not automatic: keeping the exact same support workers. If your workers are employed by your current provider, they usually stay with that provider. If you self-manage your care, or your worker is open to moving, you may be able to keep them. So it’s not “start over,” but if a particular worker matters to you (and it often does), ask both providers whether that relationship can continue before you decide.

So… Should You Switch?

Maybe. Maybe not. The point is to decide on the things that actually matter – not a deadline.

Good reasons to switch: you’re not getting the hours or services you need, the communication isn’t there, the value isn’t stacking up, or you’ve simply outgrown the relationship. A date on the calendar, on its own, isn’t one of them. When your updated pricing lands, review it against what you’re actually getting – and let that guide you.

A few questions worth asking any provider before you move:

• What are your prices, and what’s included?
• What’s your minimum shift (30 min, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.,)?
• How often will I hear from my care partner?
• Can I keep working with my current support worker?
• What happens to my unspent funds?

Need to supply written notice to your current provider? No problem, we’ve built your free template below – all you’ll need to do is simply copy, paste, and tailor based on your personal situation, it’s that easy!

You Don’t Have to Work This Out Alone

Switching providers can feel like a big, technical decision – but most of it comes down to fit, value, and trust. If you’d like a hand comparing your options (or just a calm second opinion on whether switching is even worth it for you), that’s exactly what we’re here for.

CareAbout can help you to switch providers, seamlessly and without breaking a sweat, simply call our dedicated team at 13 13 00, and we’ll guide you through how this all works.

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