My dad is in the Nursing home with Hospice, they said he will have to leave on day 21 because his Medicaid hasn't kicked in yet. Can they just kick him out?
Where was he before he was admitted to NH/hospice? If it was a hospital someone must have placed him there. Do you have any discharge paperwork from the hospital or do you remember who the discharge coordinator was - you can call her to see what if anything she Initiated for him. What kind of insurance did he have prior to this when he was in the hospital on previous admissions? Did the discharge coordinator say he would probably qualify for Medicaid?
Check your State's Medicaid website. If dad's income is over the limit (you will need to gather all of his "award letters" for pension, SS, etc., for the coming year), you go to an eldercare attorney who knows Medicaid regs. You get a Miller Trust ( or pooled income trust) created to reduce the income to eligibility level. The overage goes into a trust which reverts to the State after death.
Did they admit him "Medicaid Pending.". Does this NH accept Medicaid? Do you know that he meets the State guidelines for Medicaid eligibility? Do you have easy access to 5 years of banking statements? Has he retitled or gifted any assets or large sums of cash in the last 5 years?
Have you applied for Medicaid for him? In some NHs, he can remain "Medicaid Pending". Have you asked about this? Do you or they have reason to believe he will be denied?
Medicaid, I believe, if approved, would retroactively cover from the day of eligibility.
Be careful about signing any paperwork that obligates YOU to pay the nursing home fees.
If they talk about discharging him, ask if they are going to put into writing that they know that they are discharging a vulnerable adult into an unsafe environment. Do not sign any discharge papers. Stand firm.
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(you will need to gather all of his "award letters" for pension, SS, etc., for the coming year), you go to an eldercare attorney who knows Medicaid regs. You get a Miller Trust ( or pooled income trust) created to reduce the income to eligibility level. The overage goes into a trust which reverts to the State after death.
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Did they admit him "Medicaid Pending.". Does this NH accept Medicaid? Do you know that he meets the State guidelines for Medicaid eligibility? Do you have easy access to 5 years of banking statements? Has he retitled or gifted any assets or large sums of cash in the last 5 years?
"Medicaid Pending". Have you asked about this? Do you or they have reason to believe he will be denied?
Medicaid, I believe, if approved, would retroactively cover from the day of eligibility.
Be careful about signing any paperwork that obligates YOU to pay the nursing home fees.
If they talk about discharging him, ask if they are going to put into writing that they know that they are discharging a vulnerable adult into an unsafe environment. Do not sign any discharge papers. Stand firm.