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Aged Care Fees, Accommodation and Services Summary

Your contribution towards the cost of care, accommodation and services is subject to your individual financial circumstances and is determined by the Government. Within Australia’s aged care system, there are five possible fees you may be required to pay from 1 November 2025 under the new aged care act:

  1. Basic Daily Fee: Covers basic living costs such as meals, cleaning, laundry, heating and cooling. (Set by the Commonwealth Government)
  2. Means-Tested Fees: Hotelling Supplement Contribution (HSC) and Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC).
    Contribution costs based on an individual’s income and assets assessment. (Set by the Commonwealth Government)
  3. Accommodation, your choice of (set by the aged care provider):
    Option 1. Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
    Option 2. Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)
    Option 3. RAD + DAP (combination)
    Covers the cost of accommodation, such as your room, bathroom facilities and access to all communal areas.
  4. Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) (set by the Commonwealth Government and the aged care provider):
    Opportunity for residents to purchase additional goods and services at a higher standard than required. Based on goods and services only. Not currently offered by TriCare.

    If you are looking for information on prior to 1 November 2025 please check-out our Aged Care Reforms 2025 explainer page here.

Aged Care Fees Explained In More Detail

BASIC DAILY FEE – Set by the Government and is 85% of the single person rate of the standard Age Pension. This applies to all Ongoing (permanent) Care and Short-Term (respite) Care residents. Everyone entering an aged care home is required to pay this fee.

MEANS TESTED FEES – Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC) and Hotelling Supplement Contribution

  1. Hotelling Supplement Contribution: [AB1]  this is means-tested with a maximum daily cap set by the Government =. Residents who can afford to pay their full accommodation costs will contribute to their day-to-day living costs such as meals, cleaning, laundry, and utilities.
  2. Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC) is a contribution towards non-clinical care costs such as bathing, mobility assistance and lifestyle activities. It will only apply to residents who can afford to pay the full Hotelling Supplement Contribution and is means-tested with a daily cap set by the Government.

The NCCC will also have a lifetime cap where it will no longer be payable when the resident has been in aged care for more than four years; or the resident has paid lifetime cap which is set by the Government.

ACCOMMODATION FEE – There are 3 ways to pay the accommodation fee. Until you notify us you will be charged a Daily Accommodation Payment.

Accommodation Payment OPTIONS

There are three payment options available to fit your budget and circumstances:

  • 1. Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD):
    • A one-off lump sum deposit, 100% guaranteed by the Federal Government.
    • Retention amounts apply to all lump sum RAD/RAC*’s paid, calculated daily and deducted monthly at the rate of 2% per annum, and capped at a maximum of 5 years.
  • 2. Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP):
    • Non-refundable, rental style, daily accommodation payment.
    • Indexed twice a year (20 March and 20 September) with the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
  • 3. Combination RAD/DAP:
    • a combination of a RAD and DAP payment.
    • RAD retention & DAP indexation also apply to combination payments.
  • *RAC – Refundable Accommodation Contribution may apply to some low means residents who are eligible for government assistance towards their accommodation costs based on the outcome of the means-test.

HIGHER EVERYDAY LIVING FEE (HELF)

  • A new optional fee introduced from 1 November 2025
  • Replaces the Extra Services Fee & Additional Service Fee
  • Opportunity for residents to purchase additional good and services at a higher standard than required
  • Based on good and services only, regardless of the room a person occupies
  • HELF can only be agreed to AFTER a person enters care

On completion of your means test assessment, you will be advised by the Government of the fees that apply to you. This assessment determines whether you are required to contribute toward your care costs, or if these costs will be fully covered by the Government.

For more information on the means test assessment, phone My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit www.myagedcare.gov.au.

For more information about TriCare Aged Care Residences please review our various locations here or call 1300 TRICARE.