Basic daily fee
This covers living costs such as meals, utilities, cleaning and laundry. For some people this is the only fee they are required to pay.
Means-tested care fee
This is an additional contribution towards the cost of care and not all people that move into aged care will be required to pay it. The Department of Human Services will make an assessment to see if you need to pay this fee. This assessment is based on an evaluation of your income and assets, and they will advise you of the amount.
There are annual and lifetime caps in place to limit the amount of the means-tested care fee you will need to pay. This means tested care fee offsets a reduction in the subsidy paid to providers for residents with means.
