I read on another thread that Medicaid (for nursing home placement) will not be approved for anyone with an income (SS) of over $1200.

It depends on what state you live in as to what the asset and income rules are, but there is always a way to qualify as long as you are medically needy. What state are you talking about? There will be a website you can go to that explains how you get approved for LTC Medicaid

My Mom paid privately for 2 months in a LTC facility. Ea month was 9600. She collected Medicaid for 3 months paying 1700 towards her care. When I received the letter saying what Mom owed (she had a house I was selling) it was 6k for 3 months. 2k a month. Meaning with Medicaid and Moms money the NH was only getting 3700 a month. I don't think Medicaid's share is calculated using the private pay price. I think they have a cap of what they will pay a nursing home.

"Is it true that if a person has an income of, for instance, $1800 a month from SS and no other assets, they can't get Medicaid? No nursing home is only $1800 a month."

No, it's not true. It's going to vary state-by-state, but the SNF medicaid is need-based. In my mom's care the SNF is ~$9,000 a month. All of her social security and pension goes to the SNF except for like about $50 a month. Medicaid pays for the difference between the $9k and her income.

Also remember Medicaid is “at need” for BOTH financial AND medical.

The $$$$ part is important BUT being able to clearly show to be “at need” for skilled nursing care in a NH has to also be there AND isn’t just automatic. Medical need for skilled has to be documented over time in health chart and a needs assessment done that shows that as well.

Most NH admits come from a post hospitalization discharge to a NH for “rehab”. Post hospitalization Rehab is a MediCARE benefit for up to 100 days if progressing. But once no longer progressing, they can usually segueway from rehab patient to LTC resident and they will have a nice fat chart to show “need”.

But if your elder is still living at home or in IL or AL, they may not have existing documentation to show medical need for skilled nursing care. Imo if this is your situation, getting a independent needs assessment done will be worthwhile to do.

Medicaid healthcare and Medicaid for long term care are two different things. From what I see 1200 would be for a single person wanting Medicaid healthcare.

For LTC in NJ the cap is around 2300. What you need to do is call ur State Medicaid to find out what their cap is.

Institutional Medicaid has income caps just like Medicaid heath insurance so yes it is true. If your monthly income is over a certain amount you won’t qualify for Medicaid. BUT..... that said, the income cap varies by state and some states—I believe 11 states-allow for Miller trusts/qualified income trusts where you’re excess income goes in to a trust account that Medicaid is beneficiary of and you go into a nursing home on Medicaid. Some states have a medically needy pathway where you can spend down your excess income on your health care in order to qualify for Medicaid.