Sorry if this is all over the place. It's just that it's crunch time for me.
Mom in NC has to spend down to $2k so she can be approved for Medicaid so she can get LTC. I have till the 29th to do so. She currently has $1,413.78 above the $2k threshold in assets (a checking account). Can I spend down way below that if need to?
The reason I ask is, I was looking at paying for her to be cremated (per her wishes) and I was quoted $3,395. I was thinking of paying the most possible and then making monthly payments till it's paid off. So, say I put down $2k and that got her down to $1,400, would that be a problem? Or do I need to keep her assets closer to the $2k mark?
I would look around for a better price to keep it within limits.
Call Hospices in your area. They usually have a list of the most honest facilities.
So this FH wants $3,395 for just their part? To me, it’s an outrageous price!
You must be cremated in some type of a container in NC. I chose one upgrade from the "plywood discount special". I opted to have a small service at a scattering pond with a dissolvable urn box. No viewing before cremation. If I wanted a "rental casket" for viewing, that would not be used in cremation, that would be additional 1K.
Last I knew, final costs for the person applying for Medicaid benefits were an acceptable spend down.
My Aunt who just passed away within the last 2 weeks in SE FL, the cost for the cremation from the FH is $3,350 (a very small, humble urn and does not include coordinating with the church).
I think that the prices have indeed gone up in the past 5 years. The prices may also vary by state or region.
I think you are on the right track. The $1400 will begin to increase over time but you must stay under $2k.
All the best to you!!
Fwiw It seems a bit high for a cremation. Quick Google came up with $2,154 for an avg cost with viewing in NC. I find it beyond odd that she has $3,413.86 in her bank account and the FH does an estimate of $3395. Just sayin’……
If your estimate is including celebration of life type of event, be sure to clearly find out from NC Medicaid if those costs are eligible spend down for LTC Medicaid. Hard funeral costs and burial costs are but the “party” aspect may not be. She’s already in a NH (I assume) so what is allowed for a spend down is more narrow than if she was still living in her home. You don’t want a glitch in this and get a penalty.
On another note, mom still has her bank account, right? And it is getting via direct deposit her SSA income & other retirements ea month, right?
So how is her required NH SOC/share of cost going to be dealt with?
Does this NH have an expectation that they are going to become her SSA representative payee? & if so, how are you going to keep her bank account open?
What is NC Personal Needs Allowance $ amount and will it even cover twice a month beauty shoppe and any in room cable or other not-covered-by-LTC NH charges? I’d suggest that you try to find this out before getting mom to sign off on a $3400 cremation.
But basically by the sound of it I need to shop around
She gets $2k in ss and $500 in a retirememnt annuity a month in her bank account that I am currently overseeing. Right now she is in a rehab center and her Medicare is about to stop paying for it. She hasn't improved much so I am having to move her into a NH. I am currently working with the rehab center to find her a place so not yet sure about the SOC. She gets a $70 allowance.
Mom will be allowed a small amount from her SS for Personal Needs. My State its $50. This is to help cover haircuts, clothing she may need, snacks, anything she may need personally. For my Mom, she had Dementia. She never used her money. The NH supplies toiletries and Depends. Mom had enough clothes to last for a while.
See All Answers