Since 2004, there’s been a nearly 80% increase in assisted living costs.
For professionals to build the vibrant environments they support their patients in, prices continue to rise along with the cost of living. Whether it’s at-home or nursing home assistance, public, and private health care have had to step up to the plate and help fund individuals with their assisted living journeys.
So, does Medicaid cover assisted living? If so, what types?
Reasonable questions for those thinking about their future. If you need some guidance, we are here for you. We’re going to answer your questions about what Medicaid supports and what options are available for you.
Does Medicaid Support Assisted Living?
The short answer, yes. Medicaid does cover assisted living; however, there are stipulations surrounding the coverage. That’s why we encourage considering multiple ways of financing assisted living.
Minnesota’s Medicaid program, called Medical Assistance, covers low-income families and individuals. It also covers the elderly, blind, and disabled. It’s handled by the county-level authorities Department of Human Services. They decide who is financially and medically eligible for the program.
The Medicaid options for assisted living are home health services and nursing homes.
Now, let’s take a deeper look at the assisted living options.
Home Health Services
Medical Assistance pays for the necessary health services that take place at your home. The services must be physician authorized and include:
- Regular visits from a home health aide
- Personal care assistant
- Skilled nurse care
- Physical, speech, and occupational therapy
- Cost of medical supplies
Services are carried out by a registered nurse from a professional agency. The agency will evaluate and determine what treatment plan works best for the individual in question.
Nursing Homes
Medicaid coverage for assisted living in Minnesota requires residents to complete a MnCHOICES assessment. From there, to qualify for nursing home care the person must prove:
- They need clinical daily monitoring
- Help with multiple daily tasks
- Issues with memory loss, decision making, or behavior
- Previously stayed in an eligible nursing home for at least 90 days
If the person of concern meets the financial and medical prerequisites and meets one or more of these requirements, then they are eligible for assistance.
Does Medicaid Cover Assisted Living? — Yes!
The question shouldn’t be does Medicaid cover assisted living, but instead do you qualify for Medicaid assisted living?
As long as you meet the above criteria, you have nothing to worry about!
We hope you found this article helpful. As always, here at Sholom, we strive to help our community in any way that we can. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. In the meantime, check out our blog for more information.
