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The government has scrapped the 1 July 2026 deadline for Support at Home price caps with no new date set. Instead, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission gets new powers. For Just Better Care participants, nothing changes in the day-to-day support services.The federal government has announced an indefinite deferral of the Support at Home price caps, which were scheduled to come into effect on 1 July 2026, marking a significant policy shift for older Australians and the aged care sector.
Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the change on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, alongside new measures targeting providers who have been overcharging participants for support at home services.
The price caps, which would have set fixed maximum prices across service types, including personal care, domestic assistance, nursing care, and meal support, will not proceed on the previously announced timeline.
New Consumer Protections in Place of Caps
Rather than implementing hard price caps, the government is strengthening the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's powers to take action against providers that overcharge.
The Commission will have the power to order refunds when providers are found to have charged excessive prices and to act against providers who fail to issue monthly statements. Regular public reporting on investigations and enforcement action will also be required.
Minister Butler said the government was concerned about reports of price gouging and that the new measures would crack down on rogue providers while ensuring consumers have better information about what they should expect to pay for services. The government will also encourage providers to limit price increases to no more than two per year, giving older Australians greater certainty when budgeting their care packages.
Sector Response: A Sensible Decision
The deferral has been widely welcomed across the aged care sector. Industry bodies had consistently argued that the price caps were premature, noting that the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority needed more time to assess real pricing data from the Support at Home program before any caps could be reliably set. The Department of Health itself acknowledged that the vast majority of providers were not charging excessive or unfair prices.
The announcement was reported widely, with providers and consumer advocates recognising the deferral as a practical response to the realities of implementing a reformed system that only launched in November 2025.
Ageing Australia, the peak body representing aged care providers, had called for a delay until at least 1 January 2027, arguing that the July 2026 deadline would require reliance on outdated and inaccurate data, putting home care providers at risk of closing or reducing services.
Just Better Care Welcomes the Announcement
“We welcome the announcement from Mark Butler MP and the certainty it provides. The Support at Home program is still in its early stages, and introducing hard price caps before the market is properly understood would have risked disrupting the care that thousands of older Australians rely on every day. Just Better Care is committed to continuing to deliver quality, transparent support at home and aged care services to participants right across Australia, and this decision gives us the right environment to do exactly that.” Lee Walsh, Chief Executive Officer — Just Better Care Australia |
What does this mean for Just Better Care participants?
For existing participants, services and funding arrangements remain unchanged. Local Just Better Care offices and their teams will continue delivering the same high standard of care, and any pricing discussions will be handled openly and in line with your service agreement.
The enhanced powers now held by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission mean that consumer protections remain strong. If you ever have questions about your fees or services, you can speak directly with your local Just Better Care office, use the feedback form on our website or contact the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission on 1800 951 822.
We will continue to keep all participants, families, and the broader Just Better Care network informed as further guidance on pricing and consumer protections is released by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the government announced about Support at Home price caps? Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed in a media interview on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, that government-set price caps for Support at Home services will not go ahead on their scheduled 1 July 2026 start date. The deferral is indefinite, meaning no new implementation date has been set. In place of hard caps, the government is strengthening consumer protections through the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. |
Will my Support at Home services or fees change as a result of this announcement? No. For existing Just Better Care participants, services and funding arrangements remain unchanged. The support services continue as normal, and any pricing discussions will be handled openly in line with your service agreement. If you have questions about your fees, contact your local Just Better Care office. |
What consumer protections are in place now that price caps have been deferred? The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has been given new enforcement powers, including the ability to order refunds where a provider is found to have overcharged. Providers will also be required to issue monthly statements, and regular public reporting on enforcement action will be introduced. The government is also encouraging providers to limit price increases to no more than two per year. These protections apply across all Support at Home and aged care services. |
What is Support at Home and how does it work? Support at Home is the Australian Government's home care program that replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. The Support at Home program provides subsidies towards the cost of support services to help eligible older Australians to remain living independently at home. Services can include personal care, nursing, domestic assistance, meal preparation, and more. Every Just Better Care office delivers Support at Home services across Australia. |
Am I eligible for Support at Home? Support at Home is available to eligible older Australians who need help to continue living at home safely and independently. To access government-funded services, you will need an assessment through My Aged Care. Local Just Better Care offices also offer private home care services as an alternative for those who prefer to self-fund or are waiting for their Support at Home determination. |
I think I've been overcharged by my current provider. What can I do? If you have concerns about your fees, speak with your provider first and ask for a detailed statement. Under the new enforcement powers, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can investigate complaints and order refunds. You can contact the Commission on 1800 951 822 or visit agedcarequality.gov.au. If you are considering switching providers, Just Better Care offers transparent, straightforward pricing. Get in touch with your local Just Better Care office to learn more. |
Does Just Better Care provide services under Support at Home? Yes. Just Better Care is a registered Support at Home provider with offices across Australia, delivering a wide range of in-home aged care and support services. Whether you need help with daily tasks, personal care, nursing support, or dementia care, our teams are experienced in delivering person-centred support that helps you live well at home. |
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