Hi:
I live in Massachusetts was informed the other day that my 87 year old mother's nursing home care will no longer be covered by her insurance and that she will be considered private pay. I was given a form to sign on her behalf (I am her POA though she is competent so she could have signed it herself) indicating that we acknowledged that her care is no longer covered. I foolishly signed it and am now thinking that I have signed to be the person responsible for payment of her bills. We are in the process of applying for Medicaid. I plan to go by the nursing home to discuss this as I cannot believe I was so naïve and foolish. Would anyone know if I will be held responsible for payment of her care? I did not get a copy of what I signed...another foolish move on my part and will request it tomorrow. I am beside myself with worry. I have read that the Nursing Home Reform Law prohibits guaranteed payment from anyone other than the resident. I have also contacted my lawyer. Any help is appreciated.
And you are entitled to copies of whatever you signed. The next to the last rehab stint raised that issue when I asked the admissions director when she would be making copies for me of the dox Dad had signed. I was told by her (a young thing) and the then DON that they weren't obligated to provide copies.
I suggested something to the effect of looking up the federal statute obligating provision of copies of anything someone executed and they backed down.
I thought perhaps it was another example of the trend I've seen at that facility - young people with little real world knowledge, and especially of the legal issues surrounding execution of documents.
Since then, someone else has taken over. I think some of those Admission Directors only last less than a year because every year it's been someone different.
When we applied for Medicaid, we applied under the title "Medicaid Pending." This is important (check with lawyer) as once you have that identification, most facilities will allow your loved one to stay without cash being laid out (unless you have an agreement that part of the Social Security income would be given to the facility, so you keep paying that part for your loved one).
The facilities know that Medicaid will reimburse them the funds owed when approval has been granted. All facilities are a business, so they only need certainty that they will get refunded down the line.
Again, do this with an Elder Lawyer as they have specific ways to approach Medicaid which will speed approval for you. It only took us 8 weeks after application to be approved, yet I have heard of cases that do not get resolved for many months when the application was done without the support of an EL.
If the application been submitted already, not via an Elder Lawyer, take your case number and have him/her follow up. Well worth the cost.
Good luck!
See All Answers