I often have families come to me and proclaim that they would never need to go on Medicaid. “Isn’t Medicaid for poor families or families with limited resources?” Consider this: A spouse has $200,000 in savings, a home worth $300,000, a car and some personal property. The husband has had Alzheimer’s Disease for 6 years now, and unfortunately, it has steadily progressed to the point where his wife must place him in a skilled nursing facility. That facility charges $5,000 per month. The wife believes that she has too many assets to qualify for Medicaid, and so continues to pay privately, month after month, year after year.
You can guess what happens can’t you? Only 3 years into his stay, their savings is now gone. Four years later, the wife who has had a stroke and has burned through what Medicare will pay, needs to be in a 24 hour skilled nursing facility. How will she pay? Unless she has very high income (which most people at her age don’t), she will be required to use Medicaid paid nursing care. Let’s assume further that the couple has a 45 year old daughter with special needs who cannot care for herself. Had they considered Medicaid as an option when the husband first needed care, that $200,000 may still be around to care for the daughter.
The moral of the story is that Medicaid is not just for poor people. It is for anyone who has saved a little money, maybe has a house and does not want to see it all disappear almost overnight.
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Filed under: Alzheimer's Costs, Alzheimer's and Medicaid | Tagged: Alzheimer's Disease, alzheimers, medicaid, nursing home
Hi,
Sorry to hear about your Aunt’s situation. Unfortunately, nursing homes are free to require payment privately until Medicaid kicks in. Medicaid will then typically reimburse you, sometimes as much as 3 months. Try to find a “Medicaid Pending” nursing home that will allow her to stay for free knowing that they will be reimbursed by Medicaid. There are nursing homes that operate on this arrangement. As far as the new application, yes, a new nursing home Medicaid application is typically required, because the assistance provided, and some of the requirements are different. Good luck to you!
Hi,
That’s great that you found another home. I understand-that’s very hard to break that kind of news. In my experience it’s really best to just be honest but compassionate about the situation and let them know why you are doing it, why its necessary and reassure her she won’t be abandoned and you will be around to visit as often as possible.