Is Medicare Part B and supplemental needed if on Medicaid?

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Is Medicare Part B and supplemental needed if on Medicaid?

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Our mother, currently on Medicaid, is switching nursing homes to another state, and this has caused me to look at her health insurance and wonder if she even needs Medicare Part B and a supplemental. It seems Medicaid would pay for anything covered by Part B and supplemental (whether Medigap or advantage).

At her new place, in another state (IN), she will be in a private pay assisted living facility, but of course she still needs health insurance.

Do any of you have experience with this?

Thanks!

Medicaid Medicare Medicare Part B Skilled Nursing Facility

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I would communicate with medicare on this one. Sure isn't something you want to make a mistake on. Number is 1-800-medicare. They also publish a yearly quite thick book that is free for the asking. My guess is that she does need to keep up her part A and B medicare, but that is wholly a guess.
I hope others here more familiar with medicare can answer this for you, but as with all things on Forums of any kind, with legal issues, issues involving governmental programs, etc it is best to check with the source.
Goggle is also a good source and I found this in seconds by googling that question.

https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/cost-saving-programs-for-people-with-medicare/medicare-and-medicaid/how-medicaid-works-with-medicare

States also vary widely with medicaid, as you will likely already know.

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Yes, thank you, and I have done a lot of searching, have some places we need to call. I thought it would be especially helpful if someone has already navigated this.

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In Michigan, a Medicaid recipient is required to have Medicare supplemental. Medicaid pays the premium to Medicare. So, see what requirements are there.

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Interesting that they are required to have Medicare supp and Medicaid pays the premium. Hope that’s common.

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Of course I will. Just haven’t been able to find out online or to reach an actual human being.

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My MIL is on Medicaid for LTC in MN. She only has Medicaid and no other plan BUT here is what the govt website says:

"Can I have other health insurance and qualify for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP)?

You may qualify for Medical Assistance (MA) even if you have other health insurance."

This is talking about qualifying...and uses the word *may*. I couldn't get any more clarity than this from the website.

I found this from Medica:

http://cloud.email-medica.com/DUAL-solution?gclid=CjwKCAjwpKCDBhBPEiwAFgBzj0oGhG3I0lt_cuMbiAZv-KrClJYASuRZEUuAEUla732nJDUII2Qe2BoC_hUQAvD_BwE

I think my MIL has this but not with this provider, they just don't call it a "dual solution" because it seems to cover everything my MIL is already getting.

Every year at enrollment we receive promos from the differing health insurance companies for her to pick a Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) plan. We've never known of any other options. FYI my MIL receives great care but then again she doesn't have any really serious health issues, just immobility due to losing all her strength because she refuses to get out of bed and they can't force her. Yours is a great question that I never thought of.

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This is helpful, especially in regard to this Minnesota plan (MN is where she is now). I learned yesterday from nursing home finance person that MN has its own unique system that subs for Medicare and supplements if one signs up for it, and I was told that since she has this, she will of course need to re-enroll in Medicare and go from there. The woman kept talking about MSHO, and this website explains - thanks! Now we just need to figure out the Indiana process and how to work out the two together.

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I am with Stacy on this. Medicaid may pay the part B premium so you must need it. If we are right, Moms not paying part B anyway. Look on her yearly statement that comes out near January to show you the income increase for the year. If she is paying the premium, I would call Medicaid and see if she should be.

Your County Office of Aging may be able to answer this for you.

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I think the Area Agency on Aging needs to be my next step, for advice. And finding out from her POA if she is paying any premiums now. I am getting clearer on what I need to find out!

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Medicare has the federal government paying first so the state Medicaid program pays second. It's cheaper for the state to do it that way, even if the state pays the Medicare premium.

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Okay, thanks, things are starting to make sense.

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You do realize that her Medicaid will not go over State lines? She will have to reapply when she goes to the other state. And maybe establish residency.

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Every state is different, but in Maine we were advised to keep my brother-in-law's Medicare supplement plan and prescription drug plan when applying for Medicaid LTC. The amounts paid for Medicare B (withheld from social security), the supplement, and the prescription drug plan are discounted from his income for eligibility purposes. This works out well for the state, since the Medicaid program has less they have to pay for, and works out well for brother in law as his income would be somewhat over eligibility level if he did not have the medical insurance(s) costs. As it's turned out, because he's on Medicaid he qualifies for "extra help" (from Medicare?) for prescription drugs, so he no longer has any co-pays and the prescription drug plan is paid for.

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Do not drop Medicare Part B. Go to the State’s DHS office and apply for medical assistance. At the very least you want to apply for the State’s Medicare Savings Program or more if she is eligible.

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Is Medicare Part B and supplemental needed if on Medicaid?

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