Eligibility for Medicaid nursing home coverage
Medicaid is a federal government program that pays long-term nursing home costs for people with low income and few assets (other than a house they own). Each state administers its own Medicaid program, with slightly different eligibility rules. Note also that Medicaid offers separate coverage for medical care. And in some states, Medicaid pays some of the cost of assisted living for eligible residents in participating facilities.
Medicaid nursing home coverage is available only to people who are unable to care for themselves at home. They must also meet their state's eligibility limits regarding income and assets, which differ depending on whether the resident is single or part of a married couple (see below). They may reside in any level nursing home that's certified by Medicaid and that accepts Medicaid payment. Be aware, however, that some nursing homes only accept Medicaid payment for a limited number of residents.
Unlike Medicare coverage for nursing home care, there's no Medicaid requirement of a prior hospital stay, no restriction to skilled nursing facilities, and no requirement that the person need skilled nursing care or still be recovering from an illness or injury in order for Medicaid to continue coverage. In other words, Medicaid -- unlike Medicare -- will cover residence in a nursing home purely to provide help with the nonmedical activities of daily living -- what's called "custodial care."
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.
Clarified that Medicaid will pay for custodial care-
Hello jwp1492, Thank you for your comment. Here is a list of all the Assisted Living facilities in Puerto Rico we have listings for: ( http://www.caring.com/local/assisted-living-facilities-in-puerto-rico ). I hope that helps. Thanks -- Emily | Community Manager
This website can be improved upon. Specifically, I want to search for Assisted Living facilities in Puerto Rico. The site forces me to name cities or counties. I only know one, San Juan. The site should have an option to simply "List All." I can fix this for you. My wife and I are web copywriters.
This was a very helpful article as the regulations for medicaid are so confusing, I had to find an Elder-Care Attorney who specializes in these matters. It was the best choice I could have made. Anyone out there who does not understand the specific laws for their state should not ASSUME ANYTHING THEY MIGHT HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS. Get legal advice. For instance, I had never heard of the Lady-Byrd Deed...which in the state I live in is the only vehicle left to protect my parents home as all other methods have been discontinued and the laws are changing every year. GET GOOD LEGAL COUNSEL FROM AN ATTONEY WHO SPECIALIZES IN ELDER-CARE.
I payed for my aunt jenni's private pay out of my own pocket for the last 2 years in a nursing home which has accumulated to over 175,000.00 she is now applying for medicaid how do I get that money back?
My mother is in a medicaid assisted living care facility. She is allowed to keep a small allowance out of her social security check and the balance gets written to the state to help cover her care. She has quite a lot of outstanding debt that is now going to collection agencies. My mothers caseworker told a collector that my mother had to pay her outstanding debt with her small allowance that she gets each month which means she does not have that amount for any of her personal things she has. IS that legal?
Say you are a married couple, and your home has been in your wifes name for about 2+ yrs. The husband needs to go into a care center at that point and qualifies for Medicare. Say the husband is now in the care center and after a while the wife wants to sell the home. Does the care center still get the equity if its not in the husband's name at all?