by Jennifer J. Salopek, AARP, October 24, 2019
If you are the caregiver for someone who needs long-term care, Medicaid coverage may help with some or all of the expenses.
But it's important to tread very carefully. First, some basic facts:
Medicaid is a program run by the states following federal guidelines and is the primary payer nationwide for long-term care services. As of July 2019, more than 65 million people were enrolled in Medicaid.
Medicaid accounts for $1 of every $6 spent on health care in this country.
Many children, low-income people and those with disabilities receive medical coverage from Medicaid. Medicaid also provides services not covered through Medicare or private health insurance, including long-term care in a nursing home or in the community, says Mary Ann Parker, staff attorney with AARP's Legal Counsel for the Elderly program.
Long-term care services include assistance with such daily activities as bathing, dressing and eating. In some states, these services may also be available in an assisted living facility or in your home through a Medicaid waiver program.
Asset, income levels differ in each state
Medicaid eligibility and application procedures vary from state to state.
The federal-state program was established to pay for health care for those who are unable to afford or obtain health insurance, so all states have asset and income limits that govern who can receive coverage, but it's not one ceiling nationwide.
"Medicaid is often of importance to middle-income Americans because Medicare does not cover the costs of long-term care for illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease or paralysis caused by a stroke. Most people who need such care for extended periods will eventually deplete their assets and become unable to pay the costs of their care,” according to a brochure available online from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).
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