Assisted Living Medicaid – Another Example of the Risks of Going it Alone
A few months ago I wrote about the difficulties qualifying for assisted living Medicaid. (See 3/23/09 blog post). Last year I wrote about the risks of trying to handle a Medicaid application yourself. (See 10/5/09 blog post). A recent case we handled in our office illustrates both issues.
John had been in an assisted living facility for several years. His wife, Mary was living at home and private paying for his care. She had numerous conversations with the assisted living facility about Medicaid and was told that qualifying wouldnât be a problem and that John could remain in the facility on Medicaid. Pretty simple, or so it seemed.
Mary began the long winding journey that we have come to know as the Medicaid application process. Similar to the couple I wrote about in March, Mary did not understand the timing aspect of Medicaid, that she had to reach a target level of assets before John could qualify and that each month she missed that target was a lost month, never to be recaptured. This was of paramount importance to her, since she is several years younger than John and will need to preserve as much as she can to live on after he is gone.
The Medicaid application process dragged on as the caseworker asked for each follow up piece of documentation, all very confusing to Mary. She finally sought assistance and we were able to help her finally achieve financial eligibility. At that point Medicaid sent a nurse out to the facility to evaluate John medically, to determine that he needed nursing home care. Mission accomplished. John received the go ahead. Now, all that remained was for the facility to complete its required form, indicating that it would OK John for a Medicaid slot. Imagine the surprise when we received word of Medicaidâs denial.
When we followed up, we learned that the facility refused to make a Medicaid slot available, resulting in the denial, despite the promises made to John and Mary. We were told, however, by Medicaid that John could still be approved if the facility simply changes its stance and agrees to make a slot available.
John and Maryâs experience is a cautionary tale for families. Qualifying for Medicaid is anything but simple, especially so when it comes to assisted living. It requires the cooperation of families and the facilities caring for their loved one. It is confusing and time consuming and best not handled without the guidance of a qualified professional, such as an elder law attorney. And keep in mind that much of this is state specific. While the long term care options are complicated no matter where you live, each state has its own system and set of laws so make sure you consult with someone familiar with the process in the state where your loved one lives.