How do I fund my father's hospice care if he has no money?

He will go on LTC Medicaid once his funds are exhausted. There is really nothing you can do other than assist the SW with the LTC Medicaid application if she requests it. If you have POA, you will need to access his bank accounts. The Medicaid caseworker will ask you for records going back a certain number of years. Usually it is 5, but wait until they tell you exactly what dates they want from the bank. If you do not have POA (and nobody else does either), and are not listed on his accounts as co-owner, I'm not sure if there is anything you can do. I don't think the bank would give you the records, though I'm not sure. In that case, I suppose a state social worker would be able to either work around it or gain access to it. There are many instances where something like this happens to someone with no family. Please Your father will be cared for. Do what you can to help, but please don't feel pressured by the facility that it all falls on you, or that you have to pick him up and take him out of there yourself. You Don't! Also, you or other members of your family are in absolutely no way responsible to pay any of his bills, so don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

Medicare does not pay for Hospice facilities. From what I understand, you have to be actively dying for Medicare to pay for it. Meaning death is within a few days. If Dad is put in a NH, Medicare does not pay for room and board only the Hospice services. Dad will need to apply for Medicaid to pay for his stay in a NH.

You are not responsible to pay for your Dads care.

We did ask the case worker and they weren't that helpful unfortunately.
I think it is because we are out of state and we were contemplating moving him closer to us.

Ask the Social Worker with Hospice to help you find resources that can help.
Often Hospice will have a "Foundation" that can help with out of pocket expenses that are not covered by insurance (this includes Medicaid)

Hi Eric. You are our 12th new member today who I have answered; I am worn out! I am curious what led you to Forum for we are suddenly seeing so many new members. It's wonderful. So, welcome!

I am confused by your dad's status as described. You say he has been admitted "into a hospice" facility. Yet you ask about payment, telling us that he is "not imminent." By that I believe that you mean that he is not expected to die within a six month period and hence doesn't yet qualify for Hospice, but is in need of a facility for 24/7 care.

Again, I am confused that you say he is in a Hospice facility. If you can elaborate a bit I may be able to help. Hospice, under normal circumstances, is covered by Medicare. Medicaid is not needed. Often patients do not die in a 6 month period. At that time they will be reassessed by the hospice agency and see whether they can requalify or not.

In facility Hospice care is now rare in our country. But often people enter care facilities having hospice as an added on service. If your Dad is in a regular facility then he will spend down his own funds until he qualifies for help by your state's own particular rules for Medicaid. Hospice as an add on will be free.

I hope that this helps a little bit, but as I am not clear on your current circumstances with Dad, more information may allow me to help more. If there is a licensed Social Worker in the facility currently working with Dad he or she is your best resource to guide you in application for Medicaid, which you can start working on before funds run out.

I wish you the best.

By "imminent" do you mean days or weeks? Remember, Medicare hospice requires a diagnosis by a doctor that a person isn't expected to live beyond 6 months; but beyond that 6 months they could recertify the same.

What is the doctor's prognosis? How much recovery is expected from the stroke? At what stage is the MS? What is their overall health? All of those should be factors into life expectancy.

Sorry you're going through a rough time with Dad. Best wishes for your family

Welcome, Erica!

Hospice services are paid for by MEDICARE. If dad was admitted to a facility, you need to ask if he can be admitted MEDICAID PENDING.

Often the social worker and/or business office can help with this.