Is it normal for a NH to request security deposit for LTC admissions? Or even allowed? This is in Maryland if that makes a difference. First 2 months are privately/personally paid & then will apply for Medicaid. The amount is $10,075, which equals same as one month of private pay. If she (my sister) has to pay this deposit, then she'll only have enough for one month of private pay, plus I don't see how this wouldn't count as part of her assets and put her over the Medicaid allowed amount. Our brother is her POC & he was told this today, but he will be calling back tomorrow for clarification. Thanks for any info.
I’m assuming MD LTC Medicaid is set up that you cannot apply until you are actually in a NH and actually have nonexempt assets at or under 2k and showing this in a bank statement: if so I’d suggest that y’all ask this facility if they will accept your Sister as “Medicaid Pending” in the future once she’s impoverished. So they have her on private pay till she gets down to 2K in nonexempt assets and then she files for LTC Medicaid & then the NH is ok with only being paid her normal income (like her SSA $) less MD personal needs allowance (tends to be $60 a mo but varies by State) till she clears eligibility and approval for LTC Medicaid.
The place may ask or flat out imply that Sis has to, HAS TO, have them become the new representative payee for her SS$ or other income. That is not true. Sis can continue to have her income go direct deposit into her old back account and POA then writes a check or ach over to the NH. Now if it’s late, NH can attach late fees. My mom was in 2 NH and both times I didn’t this way. Fwiw when I moved mom from NH1 to eons better NH2, I prorated to the penny the # of days each NH paid from moms income for that month and moved her first week of the mo (so she had gotten paid from SSA and her annuity so the $ was there). I can tell you, if NH1 had been her representative payee they would have foot dragged big time to ever get any paperwork done to change payee status or forwarded overpayments. If you feel in your gut there might just might be a move in Sissys future, please do not allow the facility to become her payee.
Is this place doing her LTC Medicaid application on site?
So they will fill it out in person & in tandem with Sissy’s POA and submit it to the caseworker assigned to the facility along with their LTC room&board bill to Medicaid?
and
Have they given your bro a list of all the documents that will need to accompany Sissy’s LTC Medicaid application?
if they aren’t doing this, imo someone is clueless on LTC Medicaid. Not good, very very NG. If they are not doing this, I’d be wary.
A facility seems to have discretion as to allowing Pending to happen. If resident is married or own a home, ime facility will do pending as they know there are people or assets that can be sought out should the Medicaid application go bad. But if your Sister has neither a home / real property ownership or a spouse, that NH knows they cannot ever really coerce a sibling to pay. Legally a sibling - just like the elders kids - has no responsibility for her debts….. unless you or bro personally sign off on a financial responsibility agreement.
? for you… you mention CCRC, so is this place a CCRC? Those usually have a hefty buy-in and ime really are not geared for LTC Medicaid type of residents. They may have a freestanding building with a Hospice wing or have a sm # of skilled nursing beds private pay or a few LTC Medicaid for existing residents who need one. But in my experience CCRC are all about active vibrant type of older residents w/$$$…. more IL and the medication management type of assistance for AL residents. It’s a retirement community not skilled care community. They find a way to get rid of residents who are needing a lot of care or oversight as it’s not profitable for CCRC business model.