You must satisfy several requirements to qualify for Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides medical assistance to various low-income people, including those who are aged (i.e., 65 or older), disabled, or blind. It can pay for a number of costs, including hospital bills, physician services, and long-term care. Medicaid is the single largest payer of nursing home bills in America and is the last resort for people who have no other way to finance their long-term care. Although the eligibility rules vary from state to state, federal minimum standards and guidelines must be observed.

In addition to you meeting your state’s medical and functional criteria for nursing home care, your assets and monthly income must each fall below certain limits if you are to qualify for Medicaid. However, several assets (which may include your family home) and a certain amount of income may be exempt or not counted.

Although many people are ineligible for Medicaid when they first enter a nursing home, several states allow elders to enter and then spend down their income and assets on nursing home bills to become eligible. This can be a great advantage. On the downside, though, you may have to kiss your life savings good-bye.

That’s where Medicaid planning comes in. In determining your eligibility for Medicaid, a state may count only the income and assets that are legally available to you for paying bills. You can make assets unavailable by giving them away or by holding them in certain trusts. However, in some cases, such transfers may create a period of ineligibility before you can collect Medicaid. So, to engage in proper Medicaid planning, you should consult an experienced elder law attorney.

Choosing the right nursing home takes research

Because nursing homes have long waiting lists, you should research the nursing homes in your area before an emergency arises. If you plan on using Medicaid to pay for your nursing home care, make sure that the facility you select accepts Medicaid–not all nursing homes do. Many others restrict the number of Medicaid “beds” in the nursing home (some states, however, prohibit this). Also, be aware that if Medicaid will be paying for your nursing home care, you will not be entitled to a private room.

You should consider several factors when choosing a nursing home. These include:

  • Level of medical care: Some homes provide mainly custodial care. If you think that you may need skilled nursing care in the future, don’t choose a home that offers only custodial care.
  • Cost of care: You will pay less at some facilities than at others. Compare the cost of each facility with the quality of care and the services provided.
  • Recreational opportunities: Consider whether the nursing home organizes outside or in-house recreational activities for its residents.
  • Appearance of grounds and facilities: The nursing home should be clean and well maintained. A bad smell is one sign of a poor-quality nursing home.
  • Resident/staff ratio and interaction: Determine if the resident/staff ratio meets or exceeds state and federal requirements. Also, notice how staff members treat residents.

When you find a nursing home that you like, you should find out if a bed will be available for you, or if you can add your name to a waiting list. And remember, Medicaid planning should be done well before the need for a nursing home arises.

For more information on how to evaluate a nursing home, contact your state department of elder services.