Medicaid

• Interview - Talking With Dudley Clendinen

  The author of A Place Called Canterbury talks about the role of a good life-care facility in the final days a parent and adult child have together.

• Article - "Aging in Place" Communities Offer Seniors Independence and Support

  Creative programs offer seniors new ways to get the services of a retirement community while remaining at home. Here are three popular models.

• Checklist - 8 Things to Look for in a Nursing Home Agreement

  Nursing home agreements affect your parent's care in a nursing home. Here's what to look for in a nursing home agreement.

• Article - Hospice Care Basics

  Hospice care can make your parent's final days as comfortable as possible. What to expect from hospice care, how to pay for it, and where to find it.

• Article - Medicaid: A Beginner's Guide

  Medicaid: A Beginner's Guide. What is Medicaid? Who qualifies for Medicaid? What does Medicaid cover?

• Article - Medicare: A Beginner's Guide

  Medicare: A Beginner's Guide. What is Medicare? Who's eligible for Medicare? What's covered by Medicare? How much does Medicare cost?

• Article - Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): A Beginner's Guide

  Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): A Beginner's Guide. Who's eligible for Medicare Part A and what hospital care is covered by Medicare Part A?

• Article - Meet Caring.com's Experts

  Caring.com's experts answer your questions on stroke, medicare, medicaid, in home care, home health care, finances, estate planning, diabetes, dementia, cancer, and more.

• Article - Medigap: A Beginner's Guide

  Medigap: A Beginner's Guide. What is medigap? What are the medigap insurance plans and what do they cover? Are my parents eligible for medigap?

• Buying Guide - A Buyer's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance

  Find the best long-term care insurance policy for your needs. Understand their costs, benefits, extra perks, and the common loopholes to avoid.

• Article - Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): A Beginner's Guide

  Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): A Beginner's Guide. Medicare Part B covers doctor bills and outpatient costs. But what does it really cover?

• Checklist - 5 Most Important Financial Questions to Ask Your Parent

  Discussing your parent's financial situation can be difficult and emotional. Start with the key questions about money, insurance, and legal documents.

• Article - Medicare Coverage for Mental Health and Alzheimer's Care

  Modern medicine recognizes that many mental and emotional...

• Buying Guide - A Buyer's Guide to Reverse Mortgages

  This free buyer's guide to reverse mortgages will help you understand how reverse mortgages work and what to look for in a reverse mortgage.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Assisted Living in Challenging Times -- Planning Is the Key

  Assisted living faces rising costs and other pressures, which makes planning for assisted living both challenging and necessary.

• Blog Post - Cash and Counseling Program Offers a Paycheck for Care Giving

  Medicaid's Cash and Counseling Program lets recipients spend home-care benefits as they see fit -- including paying family members to care for them.

• Blog Post - Five Tips for Keeping the Sandwich Together

  Five tips to help sandwich generation members ease the stress of caring for aging parents in their homes.

• Blog Post - Aging Parents and Dental Care: A Life-and-Death Issue

  Regular dental care for your parents can be a matter of life and death.

• Blog Post - Should Family Members Who Provide Alzheimer's Care Be Paid?

  Paying family caregivers is controversial and has pitfalls to beware of if you go this route.

Questions & Answers

• Question - Do You Have to Be Bankrupt to Get Medicaid?

  Do you have to be bankrupt to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid home care? Can Medicaid take your house? Medicaid does have very low limits for assets.

• Question - Is there a manual to read up about Medicaid rules and regulations?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can my grandmother pay me directly with her Medicaid "spend down" for services I provide?

  Can my grandmother pay me for some of her caregiving costs to spend down for Medicaid? Yes, some caregiving costs apply to Medicaid spend down.

• Question - Can my father's house be taken to pay for long term care?

  A house transferred out of an elder's name can't be taken by Medicaid but might disqualify the elder from Medicaid nursing home coverage.

• Question - Is there a time limit on making a revocable trust before entering a nursing home?

  A revocable trust does not protect assets from consideration by Medicaid regarding eligibility for nursing home coverage.

• Question - What documents does Medicaid ask for from an applicant?

  Medicaid asks applicants about all income and assets of any type, as well as support from others and any transfers of property within five years.

• Question - Does any government program pay for assisted living?

  Does Medicaid pay for assisted living? Medicaid pays for assisted living instead of a nursing home if you're lucky enough to live in the right state.

• Question - Will Medicaid pay for an electric wheelchair?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does my mother have to sign a home lien for short-term nursing home care?

  Medicare or Medicaid can cover all or most of short-term nursing home costs, but a nursing home might want a home lien from a private-paying patient.

• Question - Can a person get paid for caring for their parents in their parents' home?

  A family caregiver can get paid to take of parents by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

• Question - How can I find an OB-GYN who takes Medicaid?

  How do you find an ob-gyn who accepts Medicaid? You can find an ob-gyn who takes Medicaid if you use physician referral services on the Internet.

• Question - Does the person I take care of have to have Medicaid for me to get paid by the state?

  A family caregiver may get paid by the state if the senior has low income and assets at or near Medicaid eligibility levels.

• Question - How do I get into a nursing home with limited resources?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Is an IRA counted as an asset by Medicaid?

  Does Medicaid consider an IRA an asset? Medicaid counts IRAs as assets when assessing eligibility, unless you spent them over 60 months before.

• Question - How can I get the dental care I need if I can't afford it and have no dental insurance?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What authority is needed to gather a parent's documents for Medicaid?

  When you want to access your parent's health records, do you need a durable power of attorney for healthcare? Or can HIPAA prevent it even with one?

• Question - What happens to a single person's house when leaving it for a nursing home?

  If Medicaid will be paying nursing home bills for a single person, the person's house must be used to reimburse Medicaid.

• Question - What health insurance options are available to someone on Social Security Disability, not yet eligible for Medicare, and whose spouse has no health coverage through her employer?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will Medicare help pay for an assisted living facility?

  Medicare doesn't cover assisted living at all, but in some states Medicaid can pay the full cost of assisted living for an elder with little money.

• Question - How does Medicaid handle dementia patients that are unable to make financial decisions?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Do CDs in trust count in determining Medicaid eligibility?

  Medicaid counts a CD in trust as an asset if revocable trust, and counts for nursing home coverage if put in irrevocable trust in past 3 or 5 years.

• Question - Is there financial assistance when a parent lives in my home?

  A family caregiver can get paid to take of a parent by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

• Question - Is there any financial help with the costs associated with assisted living facilities?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is there a minimum amount below which Medicaid doesn't bother to check asset transfers?

  For nursing home coverage, Medicaid may look at how the applicant has spent any amount, or transferred property, over the previous five years.

• Question - Is there a limit on how far back a person can seek reimbursement for expenses they incurred while they were acting as Attorney-in-fact?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can people "protect" their home and have Medicaid pay for nursing home care?

  Can you protect your home from Medicare while in a nursing home? You don't need to protect your home from Medicare, because it can't seize your home.

• Question - Is there a program where I get paid to be my mom's caregiver?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - With a spouse in a nursing home paid by Medicaid, how much can the other spouse keep?

  If Medicaid pays one spouse's nursing home costs, the spouse who lives at home may keep some income and assets. The amounts vary state to state

• Question - Will Medicare pay for an assisted living facility?

  Medicare doesn't pay for assisted living. Medicaid, not Medicare, pays for some assisted living for very low-income seniors in a few states.

• Question - If my dad and I jointly own a home, can Medicaid still take it to pay for long-term care expenses associated with a nursing home?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Will Medicaid pay for my dad's ventilator and skilled nursing care in my home?

  Will Medicaid pay for a ventilator and skilled nursing care in my home? First, you need to find out whether a ventilator is advisable for home use.

• Question - What financial assistance is available for caregivers?

  Medicaid can pay for in-home care and might even pay a home-bound senior directly, who can then pay a familymember.

• Question - How long does Medicaid keep their records for patients?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can the children of a nursing home resident distribute his assets as a “spend down” to qualify for Medicaid?

  Can the children of a nursing home resident distribute assets as a spend down to qualify for Medicaid? Get expert answers on spend down guidelines.

• Question - Will medicare/medicaid pay for hearing aids?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I get paid to provide care for my mother in FL?

  Can I get paid to care for my mother at home? It's possible for you to get paid if your parent is on Medicaid or has long-term care insurance.

• Question - My dad qualifies for Medicaid but they say my mother makes too much. Any advice on how to deal with this financial problem?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Does Medicare cover children?

  Medicare does not cover medical care for children, but Medicaid and related programs do cover care for children in low-income families.

• Question - Can Medicaid take a house to pay for nursing home care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Financial help when a parent leaves a nursing home to live with family?

  A low-income elder who leaves a nursing home to live with family may get help from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

• Question - Can you get financial aid for a caregiver?

  You may need financial aid to hire a caregiver for a parent, whether he needs hospice or home care. Do Medicare or Medicaid offer financial aid?

• Question - When property is held jointly and one party enters a nursing home, what is the financial responsibility of each party?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is home healthcare part of the Medicaid waiver program SOURCE?

  The SOURCE program includes home health care as part of an overall care plan to keep frail seniors out of nursing homes.

• Question - How do I apply for Medicaid?

  Medicaid provides broad coverage for medical care. You apply at your state's local Medicaid office, usually a county social services office.

• Question - What do I need to apply for Medicaid for my mother, for whom I'm guardian?

  To apply for Medicaid, you need records of income and assets. If it's for nursing home care, you need financial transactions from the past 5 years.

• Question - Is there help for someone under age 65, who has serious illness and little money?

  For someone under 65 and disabled, government programs can help: Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

• Question - Can I take classes and become certified for home care for my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is a home given away more than five years before still considered the parent's asset?

  Long-term care facilities can't attach assets given to adult children but Medicaid may consider such assets in deciding eligibility.

• Question - What will Medicaid pay for social adult day care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there any inexpensive insurance for the disabled?

  Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage may all be available to someone on permanent disability.

• Question - What, if any, financial help can a person, at the age of 52, apply for when the SSDI, SSI, and Medicaid programs are unaccessable to a man who has been diagnosed as being disabled significantly?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - In the state of MO, how many years before a parent has to go into a nursing home is it legal to turn all real estate property and money over to the adult son or daughter?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can a gift trust to your children protect you from qualifying for Medicaid consideration?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I be removed as the "responsible party" from a nursing home agreement?

  It may be illegal or unenforceable for a nursing home to require a family member to be the "responsible party" for a relative's nursing home bills.

• Question - How do I make sure my mother's personal information travels with her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can my grandmother get a safety bath tub from Medicaid?

  Medicaid can provide special bathing equipment for someone who qualifies for home health care.

• Question - Will Medicaid stop paying for my grandmother's assisted living facility if we take her out for the weekend or out for dinner?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Where do I get financial help for my 88 year old mother?

  A senior with low income and assets can qualify for SSI benefits of $600 to $800 per month, Medicaid and a very low-cost prescription drug plan.

• Question - Does divorce protect one spouse's assets from the long-term care costs of the other spouse?

  Is it wise to get a divorce to protect assets when one spouse has many assets and the other doesn't? Divorce can protect assets in some situations.

• Question - Does Medicaid pay for medical message therapy by a massage therapist?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will we have to pay out of pocket for nursing home care for my grandmother who has Alzheimers?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can my mother help pay for her grandchildren's education and still qualify for Medicaid?

  Will a parent risk Medicaid benefits by helping with grandchildren's education? It's essential to consider whether Medicaid will be lost this way.

• Question - Are there financial benefits available to a primary caregiver?

  A caregiver who becomes a certified home care aide could receive small benefits from Medicaid, or be paid from long-term care insurance.

• Question - Recently, after one month in the hospital with end stage...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I get help with Part B payment?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my husband signed up for Medicare Part D?

  Medicare Part D drug coverage is very inexpensive for people eligible for Medicaid and in nursing homes.

• Question - How can I get paid for taking care of parents?

  Becoming a certified home care aide might mean some pay from Medicaid, or from long-term care insurance, for caring for parents.

• Question - Are adult children legally responsible for a parent’s unpaid nursing home bills?

  Is an adult child responsible for parents' nursing home bills? He's only responsible for nursing home bills if he signed an agreement to that effect.

• Question - Do my parents need to get divorced to qualify for Medicaid?

  Should my parents get a divorce so that Dad can get Medicaid? It's possible that they won't need a divorce for him to qualify for Medicaid.

• Question - What documentation do we need in order to avoid any potential issues with Medicaid qualification related to giving children an early inhereitance?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does a living trust protect money from Medicaid consideration?

  Will putting money in a living trust protect my parent's money and help her get Medicaid? No, Medicaid considers money in a living trust an asset.

• Question - How does an in-home caregiver get paid by the state?

  A caregiver or caretaker can sometimes be paid by the state or Medicaid instead of under the table. It's called being a certified home care provider.

• Question - Will Medicaid or Medicare pay for my indigent father's nursing home bills?

  Will Medicaid or Medicare pay for my indigent parent's nursing home? I Yes, Medicaid will cover nursing home costs for eligible patients.

• Question - Does Medicare B pay at a higher rate for the required ambulance transport of a morbidly obese bariatric patient?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is a Medicaid annuity a scam?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a program to help pay the cost of assisted living?

  Some state Medicaid programs help pay for residence in specially certified assisted living facilities.

• Question - How can I get my mother the help she needs?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - im on ssi and medicaid im also on 24/7 care given to me bymy...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is the treatment called IVIG (administered through IV) covered by Medicaid?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do you apply for the Cash for Caregiving program through...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Who is responsible for paying for my mother's care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - If I move my mother in with me will it affect her Medicare/Medicaid status?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does Medicaid help pay for a hearing aid?

  Does Medicaid cover a hearing aid? In most cases, Medicaid pays for some or all of a hearing aid. Ask your doctor about your Medicaid's coverage.

• Question - How should my father balance estate planning, tax planning, and Medicaid planning?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will my stepmother be financially responsible for my dad's care once his insurance money runs out?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long-term care?

  Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long term care? Medicare will cover 100 days in a nursing home if certain qualifications are met.

• Question - Does the Department of Veterans Affairs seek reimbursement for a veteran’s nursing home care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I reflect my mother's Medicaid coverage and nuring home costs on her tax form and is she eligible for the rebate?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Where can I find a place for my elderly Mother that's safe...

  This question has been answered by two Caring.com Experts

• Question - How can you pay for care when your assets are too high for Medicaid?

  You can still qualify for Medicaid in many states if your assets are above the normal eligibillity limit but you have high medical bills.

• Question - My grandmother will need to file for Medicaid soon due to...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - With both parents in a nursing home and me with power of attorney, can I protect their savings and house?

  Once both parents are in a nursing home, it's difficult to protect their assets. They'll have to use most of those assets to pay for their own care before Medicaid kicks in.

• Question - What are the benefits of putting a home in a revocable trust?

  There are several possible benefits to putting a home in trust; protecting it from Medicaid rules is not one of them.

• Question - Help paying for chemo if you don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I be held responsible for my mother's medical bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My mom has been mis-diagnosed and a couple of weeks ago her...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I find financial aid to care for my mother in her home?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What can I do if my mom's nursing home is mistreating her and I live out of state?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a program in Iowa that will pay you for taking care of a family member?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What is the difference between assisted living and nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can my mom get paid for providing home care for my dad?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - If I hire an aide for my father should I be responsible for payments?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How much will Medicare cost me?

  How much will Medicare cost? Medicare part A probably won't cost you anything, whereas the cost of part B will be based on your income.

• Question - Are there programs that can help with the cost of in-home care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my mom, who has chronic pulmonary disease, from across the country?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What rights do I have as a healthcare agent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I amend a life estate?

  Before amending a life estate, consider the possible drawbacks of the arrangement.

• Question - Will there be any difficulty withdrawing funds from joint accounts that my mother and I share?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Am I responsible for my parent's debt?

  Am I responsible for my parent's debt? I recently discovered that my father has several thousand of dollars of debt. Are parent debts transferable?

• Question - What's a Totten Trust and how does it work?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should I sign a payment agreement with my mother's rehab center?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What help is available to pay for prescription drugs?

  Can your parent get financial help to pay for prescription drugs? Does Medicare cover drugs, or are there other ways to get help paying for prescriptions?

• Question - What do I need to know before I sign a nursing home contract?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My mother is a veteran's widow. What kind of rights does she have in choosing a home health aide?

  This question has been answered by two Caring.com Experts

• Question - Will the State of CA pay you to care for your parents?

  The State of CA won't pay family to provide care, except possibly some Medi-Cal home care payments if the caregiver is a certified home care aide.

• Question - My dad needs 24-hour care and is in a nursing home but has no assets and Medicare won't continue to pay. What do I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Am I eligible for disability?

  If you're under 65 and can't do substantial paid work, you may get Social Security disability, SSI and Medicaid, plus Medicare after two years.

• Question - Where can we find low cost dental treatments for my mom in Phoeniz, AZ?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is there a program that will pay me to care for my dad if I quit my job?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What are the risks with reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do you get financial help if you are between 55 and 60 years old?

  A few government financial benefits are available to someone under age 60.

• Question - How do I enroll a terminal cancer patient in hospice?

  Finding hospice services and learning their requirements is easy. Getting the best fit might take a little more work.

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Using Medicaid to Hire Family and Friends as In-home Caregivers

  If your parent is eligible for Medicaid, the state...

News

• News - Medicaid Managed Care Seems to Fall Short

  TUESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Medicaid enrollees...

• News - Medicare Drug Plan Fuels Health-Care Spending

  TUESDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The new Medicare...

• News - New Colon Cancer Test Might Spot Trouble Earlier

  THURSDAY, Jan. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say...

• News - Bush's Budget Proposal Would Cut Medicare Spending

  MONDAY, Feb. 4 (HealthDay News) -- President Bush's...

• News - Timely Cancer Diagnosis Linked to Insurance Status

  MONDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) -- People who either...

• News - Quality Lags at Safety-Net Hospitals

  TUESDAY, May 13 (HealthDay News) -- The quality of...

• News - Patients With Medicaid Co-Pay Cut Out Certain Drugs

  THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Adding small...