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Seriously? That is a very ignorant statement. I have a good friend, she retired with a modest pension, a few years back, after 33 years at her job. That much, she planned. What she didn't, and couldn't plan, was her youngest son being diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease at the age of 12, that would wind up putting him in a wheelchair by the age of 18, and requiring an aide to assist with his care. He needs round-the-clock care, and many trips to his specialist out of state, and expensive medication. Her income falls far short of what is needed to provide for him, and they have relied on Medicare for financial assistance for many years.
That is just ONE case of where "planning" was useless. I'm sure you can think of others, if you take off those blinders.
Gee, thanks. Of course there are exceptions to everything which is why we all pay to help those who become disabled. That's why we have medicaid and other welfare programs, to help those who need it.
In Hubby's first facility, when he was in Special Assisted Living, residents on Medicaid were ONLY allowed to be in the fewer, much smaller, studio apartments, while the other self- pay residents were in one bedroom, or occasionally, two bedroom apartments. They told me that they "saved" the few studio apartments for Medicaid residents.
When he was moved to Memory Care, the residents on Medicaid were only allowed to be in shared "double" rooms that were barely larger than the small single rooms that the self pay residents had. They did have one extra service, linens and towels were provided by the facility. One aide "let it slip" that it was easy to tell who received the free linens and towels because "only people on Medicaid are in the double rooms."
Now, to my knowledge residents on Medicaid received the same food and other care, but I do have my doubts as to the diligence of the staff when someone was on Medicaid, as we had ongoing, serious, feeding issues with Hubby. Would we have had those issues if he had been self-pay? Maybe but I suspect probably not.
At least in that facility, residents on Medicaid could easily be identified by the rooms that they were assigned.
But, your facility may be completely different.
PS. I just remembered that when my aunt went from self-pay into Medicaid, at a different facility in a different city two hundred miles away, she was immediately transferred from a larger room into a smaller room. I believe that her services stayed the same, but she clearly had a smaller room.
That's what happens in the two states I am most familiar with. Those who leave self-pay for Medicaid go to smaller rooms because Medicaid pays so much less. Most people who go to nursing homes don't stay there for years and years. According to this article, 40 Must-Know Statistics About Long-Term Care
65% die within a year. So presumably there aren't too many self-pay people who have to switch to Medicaid after 2 years. In fact, the nursing homes bet on that when they take you. They make sure you can pay the first two years because stats show you probably won't make it beyond that. Sad but true.
Things really do differ from place to place. I am sorry for your experience, germaine. My brother has a really lucky deal at the place he goes. They have actual private rooms. I think they were built when it was more affordable somehow for people to use them? But now no one hardly can or they go to other places if they can, IDK.
But if you are short term rehab you can use the private room for the regular contracted Medicare rate for a 'double occupancy room'. It's really nice. There is even a sitting room with another TV, coffee table, couch and chairs for visitors.
He's never come in on Medicaid but I don't think there will be a problem when he does. The double occupancy part - I think most there must be on Medicaid. Medicare only pays 20 days and then you're self-pay or Medicaid.
During this time while he was in the nursing facility, we had a "ladybird deed" drawn up on the home. The nursing facility had a Notary Public, and while visiting my dad one day, my mom and dad were both able to sign before the Notary Public the ladybird deed. Google "ladybird deed" for more information.
Yes, 15 states allow it and it allows property to transfer without having to go through probate. In our case, mom was still living in the home and I was her caregiver. But the property will eventually transfer to my sister and me. In fact, both our names are now on the mailing we get from the County Tax Appraiser's office, underneath my mom's name. Our elder care paralegal/attorney office explained it to us and we decided it would be a good thing for us.
Yes, 15 states allow it and it allows property to transfer without having to go through probate. In our case, mom was still living in the home and I was her caregiver. But the property will eventually transfer to my sister and me. In fact, both our names are now on the mailing we get from the County Tax Appraiser's office, underneath my mom's name. Our elder care paralegal/attorney office explained it to us and we decided it would be a good thing for us.
I don't think that works here......would be part of the Medicaid look-back. BUT I thought a lady-bird deed is a Texas thing, are you in Texas?
I think in this forum I am going to get way more confused before I get more knowledgeable,,,,,, I am BLOWN AWAY by this whole thing of DELAYING CARE when someone is penalized for transfer of assets? My God. Is this the middle ages or what? They could put them in prison until they qualify, I guess.
I don't think that works here......would be part of the Medicaid look-back. BUT I thought a lady-bird deed is a Texas thing, are you in Texas?
Yes, I am in Texas. Not sure, it may have started here. I think I read somewhere that it was called that because Ladybird Johnson had one drawn up for her property years ago.
But I did look up a few minutes ago and found where currently 15 states allow ladybird deeds. We had never heard of it either, until the elder care attorney's office told us about it.
Things really do differ from place to place. I am sorry for your experience, germaine. My brother has a really lucky deal at the place he goes. They have actual private rooms. I think they were built when it was more affordable somehow for people to sue them? But now no one hardly can or they go to other places if they can, IDK.
But if you are short term rehab you can use the private room for the regular contracted Medicare rate for a 'double occupancy room'. It's really nice. There is even a sitting room with another TV, coffee table, couch and chairs for visitors.
He's never come in on Medicaid but I don't think there will be a problem when he does. The double occupancy part - I think most there must be on Medicaid. Medicare only pays 20 days and then you're self-pay or Medicaid.
Medicare pays 100% for 20 days IF you are there for skilled rehab after a 3 day (at least) hospital stay. After 20 days, they pay 80% for as long as you are making progress on the skilled unit, up to 100 days. If you have a Medicare supplemental policy, which most do (like AARP, etc) that picks up the 20% Medicare doesn't cover after the first 20 days. I work in rehab and it's only in poor areas that people come into rehab announcing "I have to be out of here in 20 days". A supplemental is a must to get the most out of Medicare, although not cheap (my mom's was over $300/month).
Medicaid is not instant however, the family has to apply and be approved. We get people all the time who we have to discharge home totally unsafe because the family never filled out the Medicaid paperwork.
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