Low-income seniors can apply for Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program (SMMC LTC) to offset the costs of assisted living care. The state-run program was specifically designed for seniors at risk of being placed in a nursing home and offers a variety of plans to meet individual care needs. The program offers six Managed Health Care Organizations that cover Florida's 11 regions, though not every provider is available in every region.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a legal Florida resident
- Be at least 65 years old, or over the age of 18 with a SSA-approved disability
- Require a 'nursing facility level of care' based on an in-person exam
- Meet Florida Medicaid financial eligibility requirements
When determining financial eligibility, Florida considers both income and assets. In 2018, individuals were limited to $2,250 in monthly income and no more than $2000 in qualifying assets. It's important to note that Florida senior couples, when only one individual requires care, may allocate joint income to the healthy spouse to help the other qualify for Medicaid.
To learn more about eligibility requirements, seniors or their family members will need to contact their local Area Agency on Aging, or call the Elder Helpline at 800-262-2243. Representatives will schedule a screening for home and community-based services and a prioritization decision will be mailed to determine when services can take effect. The next step is to apply for Medicaid approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.