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Kaye09 Asked March 2019

My father's income is too high for Medicaid but not enough to afford assisted living- any ideas on what we can do?

BarbBrooklyn Mar 2019
Kaye; Are you talking to the discharge planners at the rehab about plans for your dad and how/whether to pursue Medicaid? That's their job, to help you.

Be upfront with them about dad's finances. They will assess, what his care needs upon discharge are and how that care can be paid for.
Kaye09 Mar 2019
They hv set up home health for now and continuing outpatient physical therapy.
JoAnn29 Mar 2019
You need to talk to the Social Worker while Medicare is paying for his care. What is the income cap in your state? Does he own a home? Car? Is SS and/or pension all he has?

With a Miller trust the excess money is deposited each month. When Dad passes it reverts back to Medicaid. Weird I know, but that is how it works.

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needtowashhair Mar 2019
You can set up a trust to pay the government back a portion of income to come under the limit. But medicaid doesn't pay for AL. There has to be a medical need. AL by definition is not that. Being old is not medical need.

Have you looked outside the US? AL in Mexico is much cheaper. About 20% what it is in the US for comparable facilities.
Kaye09 Mar 2019
I'm not sure what constitutes medical need, he is diabetic and gets dialysis 3 times a week.
BarbBrooklyn Mar 2019
Have you talked to a certified Eldercare Attorney about a Miller Trust?
Kaye09 Mar 2019
No, not yet- I hear that can be expensive.
worriedinCali Mar 2019
Has he applied for long term care Medicaid? There are different types of Medicaid, for health care and for long term care. Also Medicaid in some states will not pay for room & board in an AL facility. Anyway Long term care Medicaid has much different income guidelines. You can basically have a house, a car and $2k in assets give or take. Has he applied for LTC Medicaid and been denied? If yes, why was he denied?
Kaye09 Mar 2019
No, he hasn't yet. He is in rehab after falling and injuring his back. He is in Tennessee which has Tenncare as their Medicaid. He is also on dialysis.

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