My 89-year-old dad will be soon spending the last of his savings. He rents, so other than his car will have no assets. I think that makes him Medicaid eligible. How does being on Medicaid change what he should be doing with his various Medicare parts like prescription and medigap?
Should he need a nursing home, you won't have to worry about his savings account being over the limit (in Texas it's $2000). His income, however, maybe over the limit. If his income is enough to pay for NH care, no problem. If is income is not quite enough to pay NH, he would apply for Medicaid to cover the difference between his income and charge for the NH bed.
There are some Medicaid associated programs that you can apply for to assist with things for home care or maybe pay his Medicare premiums. You should be able to apply for them to see what he's eligible for online. Check out Medicaid where you live (online or at a local office)
Get in touch with Social Security, call your local office. It is much easier to talk to the local office than the national toll free number. If you have a rural office in the vicinity call them.
If this is going to become a homelessness situation, you need to contact your APS ASAP. There sometimes is housing available but there can be wait lists for months or years.
If Dad has traditional Medicare he is paying out of pocket for his prescription and Medigap insurances. Medicare does not cover these. So when he goes on Medicaid he will keep his Medicare and Medicaid will take the place of his prescription and Medigap coverage. When Dad goes on Medicaid, his SS and any pension will go to his care and then Medicaid pays their share. I understand that some states require you keep your present supplements but the cost of those premiums get deducted from his SS.
Medicare Advantages are a whole different thing. Medicare contracts with them. That means that the MA plan oversees the Part A & B of Medicare and offers prescriptions, supplemental, vision and dental. How this works when Medicaid gets involved I have no idea. May mean reverting back to Traditional Medicare and then Medicaid is the supplemental. Maybe someone on the forum can answer that. Or call your Social Service Office and ask for a Medicaid caseworker to run that question by them if he has a MA plan.
If Dad has no assets, he will not be able to go to an Assisted Living or independent living. Medicaid does not pay for these. Independent living definitely not. Assisted living is usually private pay but some states offer Medicaid waivers. The only thing Medicaid definitely pays for is Long-term care. Usually those Communities that offer IL, AL, and LTC you buy into. And still are required to pay rent. Only the LTC excepts Medicaid.
Dad has to fit the criteria of LTC. He must need 24/7 care for Medicaid to pay. Dementia counts here.