Applying for Medicaid for mom. She is currently in a home and this is the last month she can pay. She is at the highest level of care so it’s not like she can move out on her own. It’s taking time to get through the Medicaid’s process. Can't afford to pay the $7,500 a month for her. Can they kick her out? What are the options if the first of next month this is still dragging on?
Be careful of that outside agency. Nursing homes usually have staff that assist with Medicaid application that would not charge you.
These facilities have staff, who can help with the Medicaid application. Given the home your mom is in referred you to an outside service, I have to assume where she is now is not Medicare/Medicaid qualified; and that may mean she may have to move to another facility that is so qualified.
She -- as others have noted -- could enter "Medicaid pending" if you can find a facility to take her in that way; there is no mandate that they accept an applicant.
If you do not have the resources to hire an elder care attorney to help with all of this, I would recommend calling your area agency on aging to help navigate all of this if the home where she is now (appears to be the case) cannot help. If you have a law school nearby, often they may have pro bono help offered by law students.
On the application process, if you are able to set up on-line approaches to apply that makes it all go much faster. Most states have an on-line Medicaid long term nursing care application portal and if you have a durable power of attorney (POA) and have on-line access to all her accounts you can basically take over on the application and upload all the required documents rather than depending on "snail mail."
Again, a nursing home if Medicare and Medicaid qualified can help with all of this and they can upload documents for you and help get the application processed quicker as it is in their interest so Medicaid starts paying sooner.
I am with Lymie here, if she was in a NH/SN/LTC facility, I am surprised they didn't help start the application.
If in an Assisted Living, they are not obligated to help with an application nor help find you a facility. The only way an AL may help is if they accept Medicaid and if Mom paid privately for at least two years, which some States allow.
Be very aware that Medicaid, at least in my State, only allows 90 days to apply, spend down and find a place for the person. My Mom had 20k left. I applied in April, placed her May 1st. She paid May and June privately. In that two months, I was able to get Medicaid all the info needed. June I confirmed with the caseworker I had given him all the info needed and Medicaid started July 1st.
If you go with this service, keep on top of what they do. I was able to email all the info to the caseworker. If the service does it this way, have them cc you in. If they fax, you want proof of that fax. The quicker you get them the info, the quicker they can get it to Medicaid. The quicker everything is done, the quicker Mom receives Medicaid. Also, her SS and any pension will be needed to offset her care. If the info is not gotten to Medicaid within the time period your State has set, then u may need to start all over. Do not assume others are doing their jobs.
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