Medicaid Assistance For Nursing Home Care
Sometimes, a person needs to be admitted to a nursing facility because they can no longer live at home safely. Seniors who have been diagnosed with debilitating conditions, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's, may fare better with professional supervision around the clock. Still, nursing care is sometimes too expensive for many seniors to afford on their own.
Seniors who cannot afford to live in a nursing facility but would still benefit from the care may seek the assistance of Medicaid to help pay for their care. Here is a bit of information about the assistance that Medicaid can offer to people who need nursing home care but are unable to afford it:
There Are State-set Income Limits
Medicaid can help pay for nursing home care, but the agency only offers assistance to those who meet the income guidelines that have been set by the state. Patients may meet the income guidelines by having an income that is below the state limits or by incurring a qualified interest trust.
A patient may be receiving more income than the state permits but can still qualify by setting up a trust. All of the patient's income must be deposited into the trust. From the balance in the trust account, the liability that has been designated is paid, along with any money that is allowed to a community spouse.
Medicaid Considers the Community Spouse
If the husband or wife of a person who lives in the nursing facility continues to live in the community, they are designated as the community spouse. After Medicaid sets the allowance that may be received by a community spouse, any money in excess of this allowable is used to pay for the medical expenses of the patient in the facility.
When setting the allowance, Medicaid considers the individual income of the community spouse. The income of the spouse, when added to that received from the person who has been admitted to the nursing facility, must not exceed the total that Medicaid has approved as the community spouse allowance.
Medicaid Considers the Property of the Nursing Home Patient
When determining the liability of a nursing home patient who requests Medicaid assistance, Medicaid considers the property of the patient. If the patient owns multiple homes, cars, and insurance policies, the ownership of some of the property may be transferred to the state to help recover some of the money paid by Medicaid.
If your loved one needs nursing home care but cannot afford the cost, contact a Medicaid specialist to learn about any assistance that may be available.
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