Self pay to Medicaid

Butterfly02

Hello all,

I am looking for any help I can get. I also need direction. I have a LO (82) MIL with VD who is currently in MC. The issue is that she will be running out of her retirement funds sometime during this time next year. I don't want to sound insensitive but can't take care of her any-more. I have my own MP. My concern is that she will have to come back to live with us because my husband is the only child. We are spending down her funds hoping that we can place her into a nursing facility after her funds are used up by the MC facility. The thing is want what is best for her I just can't be the one who provides the care anymore. I need to know if there is any assistance in helping with her staying in MC. I think that she has started to adjust to being in the facility that she is in now and would hate to have to move her but they don't accept Medicaid. They do however, have double rooms to split the cost for a roommate. She is currently paying over 4000.00 a month. Are there any scholarships for DC or AC available.

harshedbuzz

Butterfly-

If you haven't spoken with a CELA regarding Medicaid spend-down specific to your MIL and state, you need to do so asap.

I have never heard of "scholarships". There do exist benevolent funds at some religiously affiliated CCRCs to allow a who needs care to stay in their facility if they've spent down their assets after a set period of time-- typically they need to be able to self-pay for 3-5 years and there is no guarantee that funds will happen.

What most families without unlimited funds do is select a MCF that does accept Medicaid. Often these places have a business model that requires 2-3 years self-pay before converting to Medicaid after money is spent down. In some states, Medicaid doesn't pay for MCF care, so the PWD will be moved to a semi-private bed in a SNF assuming they require that level of care.

In my community, $4000 would be on the very low end; dad's MC was $7200/month 5 years ago. Dad's MCF did have a couple of semi-private rooms that were used mostly by couples or siblings. Monthly costs there were only $300 less. Our state Medicaid does not fund MC; but his facility was affiliated with a SNF on the other side of the parking lot and he would have moved there if he'd outlived his money. I would prioritize an appointment with a CELA and then consider moving her to a place where she can transition to Medicaid as needed.