Does Medicaid Pay for Home Care?
Most people know that Medicaid is the service that helps people to pay for part, or sometimes all, of the costs associated with assisted living. But will Medicaid also pay for in-home care services? Some people prefer to live at home as opposed to moving into a nursing home situation. Even though the person will be living at home, they still need some sort of financial assistance. Not everyone may be able to get assistance from family or friends.
Does Medicaid Pay for In-Home Care?
The short answer is that Medicaid will pay for qualifying in-home care services to those who meet the Medicaid medical and financial qualifications. The medical qualifications center around whether or not the individual really does need around-the-clock care. The financial qualifications have to do with the assets available to pay for care on their own. The qualifications vary from state-to-state, but all states have general guidelines they follow.
Medical Qualifications
The medical qualifications for Medicaid approval are different in each state, but the process is the same for evaluation. A certified and licensed doctor will review the applicant’s medical condition. The doctor will then determine if the applicant does indeed need help with daily tasks such as personal hygiene, preparing and eating food, keeping their house clean, and moving around the house.
Financial Qualifications
Once an applicant is deemed to have a sufficient financial need associated with their medical condition, Medicaid will make a determination as to how much aid per month the applicant will receive.
In-Home Services
Once you are approved for in-home Medicaid services, you will have access to a list of options that you can use to live in your own home while still receiving care. Those services include:
- Health care and monitoring from a certified professional
- Laundry and home cleaning services
- Meal delivery
- Basic round-trip transportation for medical appointments and procedures
- Personal hygiene assistance
- Basic home renovations such as widening the front door for a wheelchair and adding a ramp
- Medical equipment for certain types of needs
When is In-Home Appropriate?
Part of the medical evaluation process has to do with determining whether or not the applicant will be able to get proper care living at home. Even with the kind of services Medicaid offers, some people simply need to be monitored by medical professionals around-the-clock and that cannot be offered with an in-home environment.
If you have questions about Medicaid and in-home services, our trusted Medicaid planning attorneys are ready to give you the answers you need. We cam help you to make the right decisions.