What happens if my indigent, elderly mom needs to be hospitalized, but can't afford it?

In some states I believe that Medicaid is administered by the county governments, (CA) not the state although it is a state/federal program. I find it unusual that the county would be subsidizing her group home costs if they were aware of the previous QCD. Who did her paperwork to qualify for the subsidized rent at the group home? As for Medicare and Kaiser, do you mean she has a Medicare Advantage program with Kaiser?

Thank you all.

Vegaslady--she's definitely only on Medicare--they pay a portion of her health insurance through Kaiser. As for the facility, she is in an adult foster care home that is a private care home which has an arrangement with the county we're in. The county subsidizes part of her rent payment. These are not your regular assisted living places. They're for indigent people. Medicaid will only be for when she needs a nursing home. I know they have some benefits she could get now to help pay for her meds, I think, but
I am reluctant to apply for Medicaid for her just yet. She gave her home to my brother 4 years ago, via a quit claim deed. I know there is a 5-year look back, and am worried that they will not pay for her entirely, knowing the home was just given away. Of course, my brother has not helped at all... Just crossing my fingers that she does okay for at least one more year.

You should probably apply for Medicaid now for her, but are you sure she's not already on it? Hard to think of a facility only accepting SS for payment (probably too low). And the $60 she gets to keep sounds like a personal allowance on a Medicaid program. You may not have helped her apply for Medicaid but the facility may have. I'd ask them how mm uch and how they are getting paid and if they are being paid tru Medicaid.

Our attorney told us that if we ever had to sign our parents into a hospital, always sign the parents name by our name. For example: John Smith by Mary Smith. In another thread someone suggested signing Mary Smith, in her capacity as POA for John Smith. NEVER sign just your name or you are assuming responsibility for all bills.

Medicare does not have a $3000 deductible for a hospital stay. See info here.
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospital-care-inpatient.html

Thank you all for your answers. It has eased my mind. My mom has Medicare, only. Eventually, she will probably go on Medicaid, but with my help, things have been going okay. I'm just worried about any additional future expenses that I won't be able to handle. Thanks again!

From the allowance your mother gets out of her ss ($60) I assume she is on Medicaid. Relax. Hospitalization will be fully covered.

Does mom have Medicare and/or Medicaid?

If she has no assets, she is "judgement proof". Just don't YOU sign for anything.

To add to 97's reply - that doesn't mean they won't try - to get you to sign.

It's been my experience that ER's and rehabs will try to get family - usually an adult child - to sign to agree to providing care by way of taking them home and/or agree to be responsible for costs. In fact, many - and usually the social worker, in my experience- will lie or very strongly imply that you have no choice. Don't let anyone bully you into it - unless you are the legal guardian- it isn't your responsibility.

You aren't required to sign in order for your mother to get hospital care.