Is it required for me to be financially responsible for the skilled nursing care for my mother even if she has medical insurance coverage?

Kendall15,

Absolutely do not sign any documents that you've not either thoroughly reviewed or had reviewed by an attorney. Of course, any SNF would like to receive payment that is over the amount paid for by Medicaid (or her own estate), but you are not financially responsible and have no obligation whatsoever to assume any fiscal responsibility for your mother's cares.

I'm sorry to know that your mother is no longer able to live outside of a SNF, but they are obligated to accept the fee-for-service amount that state agencies negotiate for the care that they provide and it is intended to be the same quality of care that is provided by the insured or private pay residents.

If you find yourself being pressured into signing anything, pls immediately contact your state ombudsperson for elder or disabled care and report this illegal action. Many of these SNFs want to get anyone to pay higher amounts for the care they've already negotiated a cost for and that is quite simply not lawful on their part.

I hope that you mother fairs well in this new care setting and that you can navigate all of this without the added burdens of being pressured to pay for what is not your responsibility. MA has a 4 year look-back at any fiscal or property transactions and if your mom had good advice with any estate planning (as too few do), then some of her assets will meet the threshold for protection from liens by state MA programs and services.

Sign nothing without legal advice.

Nope, don't do it! My parents were in a SNF for rehab on 4 separate occasions and not ONCE was I (as POA) asked to sign ANYTHING asking for me to assume financial responsibility for what Medicare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield would not cover.

This has SCAM written all over it, IMO. Who's to say, at the end of the day, what this rehab deems 'not covered' and what you'll wind up being billed for??

In reality, Medicare covers ALL of the charges for ALL of your mom's rehab for the first 20 days at LEAST. After that, you may have to call her secondary insurance provider to find out what's covered IF they want to keep her longer.

But in the meantime, don't sign anything!

They probably mentioned this, figuring you would have access to any funds that would not cover what was owed.

Don't sign ANYTHING with just your signature unless you want to be held responsible for all copays, etc.

ONCE, we moved mom from a nasty rehab facility and had her moved to a much better one. OS simply handed over her AMEX card and said "Put the remainder on my card". (She's stinking rich and will throw money at any problem, b/c face it, a lot of times it's MONEY that's making the difference between sub-par care and great care). She knew fully well she would be charged the difference and that was fine with her.

As said, No, sign nothing. Like said as a POA you sign with POA after your name. Not sure if I even signed anything being responsible.

Medicare will pay % the first 20 days. The next 21 to 100-50%. The other 50% is Moms responsibility. Her supplimental may or not pay. The finance office should explain this all to you. If she is there 100 days, the bill we be in the thousands if insurance doesn't pay or she can't afford to. You maybe able to get Medicaid to cover that cost. At 101 days, though, she now is private pay and they will definitely want her to be on Medicaid if she can't afford to pay. She will be asked to sign over her SS and any pension to offset the cost of her care.

Mom can be discharged at any time if Medicare sees no progress. So the decision will need to be made if Mom goes home or to LTC. If she has no money, then Medicaid will need to be applied for. I suggest you din't allow a SW to get you started. You need to be involved with the Medicaid caseworker making sure they have all the info needed to get Mom on Medicaid within 90 days allowed. We find on this forum that SWs have given family members the wrong info or not enough. I first went and talked to a Medicaid caseworker to see how things worked. When I actually applied, another caseworker took me thru the application keying in the info on his computer. He gave me a list of things I needed to do. I started the application in April, Mom paid May and June in LTC. June I confirmed she was now spent down and her Medicaid started July 1st. Mom only had her house, exempt asset, SS, and small pension. So the application was easy.

No No No! Do not sign anything in your name! You are not financially responsible and don't put yourself in a position where you sign something that will give the NH some avenue to try to collect from you. Ideally you would want to consult and bring the documents to a good attorney. Is mom going to be there long term? Eventually her insurance will stop coverage and the facility will have to be paid either out of mom's funds, or if she doesn't have the money, she needs to go on state LTC Medicaid. You can help by getting her set up for Medicaid, either the attorney can do it, or you can apply for her with help through the facility's finance officer and SW or directly with the state, usually the state will have a website where you can apply. But please, don't sign your name as responsible party for payment.

If you are her Durable or Financial PoA, you must read the document to see when your authority to act on her behalf becomes active. That being said, you should consult with a certified elder law attorney for the proper wording when signing any paperwork on her behalf as PoA. In my state, my husband signs his name, then adds, "as PoA for (his mother's name)". Never sign it with just your name, and if you're NOT the PoA then DO NOT sign anything.