Is Nursing Home Care Possible Without Medicaid?

Many in Putnam County may eventually rely on Medicaid to cover long-term medical care, but it is not always easy to obtain Medicaid coverage. Some are forced to rely, either temporarily or permanently, on other options to help themselves or a loved one obtain long-term inpatient care. A Mahopac elder law attorney can help your family ensure your loved ones are cared for – hopefully without breaking the bank.

Potential Options For Emergencies

There are several options a family may take to ensure a loved one is placed where they should be, but all of them require some degree of action even before Medicaid benefits are approved. For example, if a person needs care quickly, it may be possible to get placed in a facility while their Medicaid application is ‘pending’ – the approximate wait for Medicaid to approve an individual’s application is at least three months, and in the meantime, the facility may delay costs until their patient’s benefits are approved.

This can be a boon to families with truly suffering family members – but in New York, as of this writing, there are not many facilities that accept Medicaid-pending patients, and the reviews of many such facilities make for grim reading. Another option, if the person has Medicare coverage and few assets, is for Medicare to cover their first 100 days in a facility – but after the first 100 days, there is no guarantee of immediate acceptance, and Medicare coverage must be current and verifiable.

Family Pay (Temporarily Or Permanently)

If a person cannot find a care facility that accepts Medicaid-pending patients, they may have to pay privately for care, either for a temporary period or in the long term – but, as one might imagine, this can quickly turn difficult if an estate plan is not in place. Whether it is for a few months or a lifetime, nursing home care is expensive. Medicaid is means-tested, meaning that if an individual or married couple have income and assets above the set threshold, they will not qualify for subsidized care.

What many families do is have the patient “spend down” their assets and income until they qualify for Medicaid coverage. This way, the patient does not have to move facilities (if theirs accepts both private pay and Medicaid), and the transition from family pay to Medicaid is often seamless after approval. However, be advised that there are rules governing the “spending down” of assets – transfers must be appropriate and market value must be received for any assets that wind up with other people.

Contact A Putnam County Elder Law Attorney

If you or a loved one will need long-term care soon, now is the time to act. With the right planning, a Putnam County elder law attorney from Meyer & Spencer, PC can ensure that your assets are organized and your care is covered. We are here to help – contact us today at (845) 628-0009 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-new-york/