Is Medicaid Assisted Living A Real Option In Houston Texas?

If your parent needs assisted living then you are probably looking at how to pay for it. You know how expensive it is right? A lot of people think of Medicaid assisted living as a silver bullet solution. In reality, in many cases it is not. There is a lot of confusion out there about what Medicaid covers and does not cover. Let’s try to clear things up a bit.

Medicaid Assisted Living Does Not Cover

Room and board is usually the biggest expense in an assisted living facility. Unfortunately there is no Medicaid coverage for it. Your parent will have to pay that from their assets or income. However, they may be able to save a lot of money on medical expenses.

It Does Cover

There is some valuable coverage however. Here is a brief summary of the kinds of benefits Medicaid would pay for in assisted living.

• Personal Attendant Services (PAS)
• In-Home or Out-of-Home Respite Services
• In-Home Nursing Services
• Emergency Response Services (ERS)
• Home Delivered Meals
• Minor home modifications
• Adaptive aids and medical equipment
• Medical Supplies
• Adult Foster Care (AFC)
• Transitional Assistance Services (TAS)
• Therapy (occupational, physical and speech)
• Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS)
• Dental Services
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Services
• Financial Management
• Support Consultation

It’s Not Just Assisted Living

So, one big fact I have to point out is these benefits are available in other settings. For example, you can get them if your parent lives at home. You can get them if they live in an apartment. Not to mention you can even get them if they live with a family member. This is one of the reasons you’ve probably seen a lot of conflicting information on Medicaid assisted living. The benefits are available in assisted living but they are not exclusive to it.

For Family Caregivers

Another key point of this program is flexibility. For one thing, you can have family members provide some of the services. And the best part is you can have Medicaid pay them. As a result, this is a great option if it is difficult to find the right caregiver for your situation.

Still Too Expensive?

Although Medicaid will cover a lot of medical expenses in assisted living, sometimes the rent by itself is just too expensive. If that is your situation, then you will need to consider alternative placements including a possible Medicaid nursing home.

How To Get It

The next step is to apply for benefits. You apply for this program in the same way you apply for nursing home Medicaid. Notably, it has rules for income limits, asset limits, and penalties for transfers in the last 5 years. As a result, you will need to navigate the same  hurdles as in a nursing home case. Your Medicaid Lawyer can help you get through the Medicaid Assisted Living eligibility process.