My mother has been on Medicare since was eligible (she's 73 now) and has in the past 9 months been on Medicaid. I'd like to think that it wouldn't matter, but I can remember my mother stating something to that effect when she worked as the dietary manager in the nursing home.
I think my husband got sub-standard care each time he was hospitalized, both before and after being on Medicaid, and that is because our hospitals -- even great ones -- do a piss-poor job of taking care of those with dementia. It is lamentable, but a completely separate issue from who is doing the paying.
My mother is on Medicaid and is now in a nursing home, and on hospice (paid for by Medicare). I doubt very much if her aides and nurses know how her bills are being paid. I'm impressed with the care she is getting.
My daughter works in an Assisted Living Facility as a PTA. I asked her once how many of their residents are on Medicaid. She said she assumed that most of them who have been there a long time have run out of money and are on Medicaid, but that she doesn't know that for sure or which they are. Obviously she is not giving anybody any worse treatment.
I'm sure it is possible that some places that accept Medicaid are not great places. I suppose that some places that have both private-pay and Medicaid patients do discriminate in the levels of care they provide. I don't doubt the experiences of other posters. But I'm happy to say that I have never seen any of that with my husband or with my mother.
See All Answers