My mom is going into a nursing home soon . She has $30,000.00 cash to go towards the cost. She owns her house. Do you have to sell the house to help pay for her upkeep before Medicare will kick in? Renting out the house is not an option
Great guidance from BarbBrooklyn. Consulting an elder law attorney who is versed in the Medicaid app and process is a good investment since HOW you manage your mom's money can screw up qualification (like transactions that may "appear" to look like the gifting of assets, either to you or from you, etc). My state has a 5 yr "look back" period on the Medicaid app, some states as short as 2.5 yrs.
Do get your mom into a well managed, reputable facility that has a continuum of care (from AL to MC to LTC) this way she never has to be moved (a Medicaid recipient that moves may find themselves of a waiting list for entry into another place). A facility that accepts Medicaid cannot "kick out" an existing resident who runs out of money (but then qualifies for Medicaid) but if they are short on Medicaid beds they may ask you to pay for the difference of a private room (Medicaid rooms are shared rooms in most cases) so you may want to clarify this when researching places. As a Medicaid recipient in a facility she will get the same care and medical attention as private pay residents.
As Barb said, its Medicaid she will need. That 30k may last 3 months in a NH. You will need to start the Medicaid process as soon as you get Mom placed. In my State you are given 90 days to pay down to the 2k limit. Get paperwork needed and place the person needing care. With my Mom she had 20k which paid privately for 2 months. I started the process in April, She was placed May 1st and Medicaid started paying July 1st.
Moms SS and any pension will need to be used to offset the cost of her care. A house is an exempt asset but you will not have Moms money to pay taxes, utilities or upkeep. Even though its exempt, Medicaid may not allow it to be rented or someone live in it that is not already a resident.
I would suggest you talk to a Medicaid caseworker at your County Social Services office. I would not suggest going thru the NH to apply for Medicaid.
Suzie, MEDICARE will pay for short term rehab after a hospitalization. It does not pay for long term care.
MediCaid will pay for long term care if you are both medically and financially qualified.
1. Make sure the NH accepts Medicaid; many don't.
2. Mom's house is an exempt asset, but there will be no money to pay for taxes, upkeep.
3. If mom sells her home, those funds will disqualify her for Medicaid until they are spent. But doing private pay for a year or more may get her a better placement.
4. Use some of mom's money for a consult with an eldercare attorney.
Do get your mom into a well managed, reputable facility that has a continuum of care (from AL to MC to LTC) this way she never has to be moved (a Medicaid recipient that moves may find themselves of a waiting list for entry into another place). A facility that accepts Medicaid cannot "kick out" an existing resident who runs out of money (but then qualifies for Medicaid) but if they are short on Medicaid beds they may ask you to pay for the difference of a private room (Medicaid rooms are shared rooms in most cases) so you may want to clarify this when researching places. As a Medicaid recipient in a facility she will get the same care and medical attention as private pay residents.
Moms SS and any pension will need to be used to offset the cost of her care. A house is an exempt asset but you will not have Moms money to pay taxes, utilities or upkeep. Even though its exempt, Medicaid may not allow it to be rented or someone live in it that is not already a resident.
I would suggest you talk to a Medicaid caseworker at your County Social Services office. I would not suggest going thru the NH to apply for Medicaid.
MediCaid will pay for long term care if you are both medically and financially qualified.
1. Make sure the NH accepts Medicaid; many don't.
2. Mom's house is an exempt asset, but there will be no money to pay for taxes, upkeep.
3. If mom sells her home, those funds will disqualify her for Medicaid until they are spent. But doing private pay for a year or more may get her a better placement.
4. Use some of mom's money for a consult with an eldercare attorney.