How can we find financial assistance for my dad who is not eligible for Medicaid?
Good Evening.
My 72 year old father has been in the hospital for the last month and it has been determined that he should not go back home but to a care facility. We are working on getting everything straightened out, and the hospital says that he is going to be discharged soon.
That is where we are having trouble. He receives SS and a check from the VA. His income is about $1800.
He has a truck that he just traded in for in the last month, has made 1 payment, and owes about $27,000 on it. He has a trailer and land that he purchased in 2009, and has a mortgage on it for about $64,000.
So he pays out about $1000, for the payments on the trailer and the truck. We are going to court to get guardianship. And Medicaid says he makes too much to get help from them to pay for the nursing facility.
We want to just stop paying on the trailer and the truck. And he does have a lot of medical bills streaming from being in the hospital 3x in the last 3 months.
I have no idea what to do. The hospital social worker is not being much help, nursing homes around here are from $2100 on up. The doctor recommends a locked facility. Is there any more help out there I do not know about.
This whole thing is stressing us out, and we are at a loss about what to do.
Expert Answer
First, there may be a way to get your father additional income. If he is collecting compensation from the VA as a result of a service connected disability, he may be able to get more money by applying for the VA non-service connected pension. With his long term care costs, he will be eligible for a pension of $1,644/mo. He can get whichever benefit is greater, not both. Next, you should try to sell the truck and trailer. The dealer may be willing to repurchase the truck. Take however much you are offered, as long as you can pay off the loan. If you stop making payments, the truck will be repossessed. Either way, you are rid of it. If the trailer is worth less than he owes on the mortgage, you can try a short sale. If you don't make any payments and can't sell it, it will be foreclosed. At this point, you don't have to be concerned about your father's credit rating. His creditors cannot come after you. Will your father be going to an assisted living facility or a nursing home? $2,100/mo. seems much too low for a nursing home. Whether he is eligible for Medicaid depends on the type of facility and the state he lives in. It is unusual for someone with $1,800/mo. in income not to be eligible for Medicaid in a facility. You should look for an elder care specialist who can help you navigate these issues.