ok some of you know me and my story. I have new question and would appreciate feedback. I have been trying to put my Mom in a home a lot of things has happened since I have made any new posts. Since that is her Insurance I have very few choices to where these places I do not care for have had not so good experience when she was there for rehab or respite services.Was told I could put her where I do not care for so much then when approved I could move her where I thought better of. So finally recently I did first step social worker told me to do which was contact bank and have to get five years of statements for every month,bank told me this will cost me 25 dollars a hour and so much for each page. Ok well I am at the point where hospice discharged her she know has a lot of supplies that cost 150 every two weeks diapers,underpad ,padliners and so on.Plus I went to Pharmacy to pick up her meds and they are 25dollars a piece,I cannot afford all of her care plus when I do have caregiver that amounts to a lot of money that she does not have anymore I have exhausted her money over past 14 years for her care now easy way to put it My Husband and I have been living to pay for her care and when this happens I do not have no money to pay bills. I said all this to let you know why I am going to say I cannot afford to pay for her to be on Medicaid. I just do not have it and I can tell I'm so tired do not feel good .So now what do I do should I do reverse mortage no one is willing to except her.Also was told thru elderly Lawyer new stipulation out saying her home which I have lived here over 25 years and been taking care of her for 14 years that nursing home cannot use as an asset but can put a lein on home. What ever that would come out to be. Can someone help me. Thanks sandy
If her bank wants to get paid to do statements, that is what it is. Medicaid compliance is very exacting and if your state requires a full 5 years of bank statements, then you gotta submit them. Really start going through drawers and boxes or wherever else paper is and look for any & all financials for mom. medicaid is going to want insurance policies too. And if any of those appear to have a cash value, then they are going to need to be cashed in.
It sounds like you & hubs live in your mom's house which she fully owns, is that right? Medicaid rules require that your mom's home - which is an exempt asset during her lifetime - can have a lein or a claim placed on the property after mom dies. The is MERP - Medicaid Estate Recovery Program - and all states have to have MERP in place and done. The house exemption becomes non-exempt after death. Now there is a caregiver exemption to the claim or lien, but you will have to a file for it after mom dies and do whatever as per how MERP runs for your state laws for probate. Some states have specific documents that need to be provided in order for the caregiver exemption is done too…..like for TX MERP you have to provide a letter from their MD or a SW as to what caregiving was needed and what was provided and signed by the MD / SW with their state license #.
You've been a caregiver 14 years, so you are probably OK for qualifying for the exemption. I would speak with her MD to get that letter now it at all possible.
Now although it sounds dandy that you will get the home, you will need to have the income to pay for all on mom's home from now till whenever she dies and through the probate / MERP period. Mom once in a facility on Medicaid will be required to do a co-pay or her SOC (share of cost) to the NH. So if mom gets $ 800 in SS a month, then that $ 800 less a small personal needs allowance (this varies by state and runs from $ 35 - 105) must be paid to the NH. There will be none - nada - zero of mom's $ to pay a penny on the house. If you want to stay in the house, you have to have the income to pay on all and you kinda need to keep careful documentation on all the costs on the home from now till beyond death.
Please review all the costs, income, etc for both you & your mom to see just where you stand in affording all this. What can happen is that the caregiver just cannot afford to have the elder move into a NH; that they are interdependent on mom's SS & retirement income to make ends meet; to have food on the table and roof over their heads. If that is the case, then see what you can do to get mom qualified for hospice at home care - which is a MediCARE benefit. It can pay for and provide a lot of the equipment and incontitnent supplies and medications needed for mom as well as aides to come to the home maybe 2 - 4 times a week to lend a hand. Hospice since it;s Medicare is a self-directed program - so you can choose which vendor to go with. There are likely lots of hospice providers in your area. Ask your mom's MD office as to referrals - her MD will need to write the order for a hospice evaluation to be done too. Good luck, there are hard choices to be made but need to be done.