For many older adults, paying out of pocket for long-term care is out of the question. Long-term care insurance can help, but this is not an option for many. This is why most families turn to government assistance to ensure care for their older relatives.
Medicaid is a viable option for funding long-term care in a nursing home, your own home or in an alternative community for seniors. But like any government program, there are certain requirements for eligibility.
Types of long-term care under Medicaid
There are three long-term care programs under Medicaid, each catering to a specific need:
- Nursing Home Medicaid: Medicaid offers financial help for individuals who need long-term care in a nursing home.
- Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Medicaid: This program provides long-term care services to seniors 65 and older with disabilities.
- Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers: Medicaid also provides waivers to individuals who receive long-term care services in their homes or communities instead of a nursing facility.
Given the differences between these programs, it is important to determine the level of care your loved one needs before choosing the right one.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Whether or not your loved one qualifies for Medicaid long-term care will largely depend on two things:
- The level of care they need
- Their income and assets
Your loved one must be 65 or older and/or have a permanent disability. They must also show a need for long-term care only a nursing home can provide.
In other words, they must require a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC), showing a constant need for full-time care and supervision. This criterion is applies to both nursing home Medicaid and HCBS waivers.
For ABD Medicaid, your loved one must be 65 or older, blind or disabled.
As for financial requirements, the current asset limit in Indiana is $2,000. This means they must have less than or equal to $2,000 in countable assets, which can include bank accounts, cash, bonds or other assets that they can easily convert to cash.
On the other hand, the monthly income limits for each applicant are:
- Nursing Home Medicaid: $2,901
- HCBS waivers: $2,901
- ABD Medicaid: $1,255
These limits can change if your loved one is married and if that spouse earns an income.
Medicaid can be a great option for long-term care, but there are many requirements your loved one has to meet. To make the process easier, consider working with an attorney who can help with long-term care planning.