My mother-in-law is 85 and very low income. She has never signed up for either Medicaid or Medicare. It has become quite obvious that she will soon need to go into an assisted living /memory care facility in the near future. Since she is very low income (about $500/mo. in SS) and has no assets, what is her best option for financial assistance for long-term care?
Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income.
Medicaid doesn't always pay for AL but in some states it does, she'd need to check with social services for her county. Based on the info provided, she would very likely qualify for Medicaid for at least LTC or MC. Make sure what ever facility she chooses actually accepts Medicaid recipients and that there's no long waiting list for rooms. Medicaid means she will be in a shared room.
Most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare part A at age 65. You have to sign up for Part B and a deduction is taken from your Social Security payment each month.
Steeley, there are penalties for not taking Medicare at 65. I think allowances are made for people who have continued to work and employers are paying for health insurance. Medicare does not pay for ALs , MCs or NHs. Its a health insurance.
As said, Medicaid does provide health insurance and Long term care in NH. Rarely does it pay for MC or an AL. In my state you have to privately pay for at least 2 yrs to maybe get Medicaid to pay for an AL or MC.
If MIL is not on Medicare, how does her doctor, prescriptions and hospital bills get paid? Did she work, did her husband work and if so, for how long? When husband passed, did she see SS concerning an adjustment in her payment? She should have received his portion and hers would have dropped. (This is what I was told and have seen but there are people on the forum that disagree with that)
To answer your question, since MIL has no money, Medicaid would be your option but they basically only cover NHs. You will need to see if wavers are given in ur State for ALs and MCs.
I suggest you talk to someone at your County Office of Aging. They maybe able to help u.
How does she pay for her Dr. visits and medications? Or is she on no medications and never sees a Dr?
You can also look at the annual 1099 and notice of benefits. They both show if Medicare is being withheld from her check.
She should also be eligible to get part or all (questionable how that works) her deceased spouses SS. If she was married more than once, ask social security to check which spouse's account would provide the most money. Make sure that getting an increase of her social security doesn't disqualify her from getting Medicaid.
Medicare and Medicaid are not a one or the other, 2 entirely different programs. They work completely different and pay for different services.
My 1st phone calls would be to Social Security Administration to find out what is happening with Medicare and HHSD Health and Human Services Department of her county to find out what the Medicaid maximum monthly income is to qualify for services. You want to know this so you don't inadvertently do anything to disqualify her. At 500.00 monthly she will qualify for assistance, each state is different, so you will have to find out how to get her the care she needs in her local.
Best of luck finding her the best care possible. Be patient with these phone calls, dealing with the bureaucracy of government programs is trying, but you can get lots of help by being kind and patient even when you want to cry because of the rude assistant, they make notes about the phone calls.