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Who Qualifies for Home Health Care Financial Assistance in Minnesota?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Minnesota’s Medicaid program, Medical Assistance (MA), offers an Elderly Waiver that can be used to pay for home health care services for seniors aged 65 and older who require nursing home-level care and fall under the income cap of $1,506 per month for singles and $2,029 for couples.
Individuals with income above the cap can still apply to be considered for financial assistance through the “Medically Needy” program, also known as the “Spend-Down” program. The program allows individuals to become eligible for Medicaid once their income has been spent down to $1,133 per month for singles and $1,527 for couples after deducting applicable medical and care expenses.
Average costs of home health care in Minnesota
According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, home health care in Minnesota costs an average of $6,912 per month. Costs are a bit higher in Minneapolis and Duluth, which average $7,055 and $7,436 per month, respectively. Assisted living costs are below the statewide average in St. Cloud, which averages $6,231 per month. Rochester and Mankato share the same monthly average of $7,627.
Additional financial resources for seniors in Minnesota
Seniors who make too much to qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for additional financial resources. These include the following:
Minnesota’s Consumer Support Grant: This monthly cash grant allows recipients to pay for home health care services, home modifications, meal delivery and other services to help them remain in their homes as they age. Alternative Care Program: This program allows seniors who require nursing home-level care to remain in their homes and pay for the health care services they need. Essential Community Supports Program: Seniors who do not require nursing-home-level care but could still benefit from assistance with activities of daily living can apply for this program and receive up to $466 a month for essential services.