The types of long-term care Medicaid is available to cover and pay for differs between Illinois and Missouri. While in both states, Medicaid pays for nursing home care in a nursing home (Medicaid bed), beyond that the two states differ significantly.
In Illinois, there are some assisted living facilities that have been certified as supportive living facilities and they are Medicaid providers. But, there is no assistance to help pay for home care. In Missouri, there is no help with paying for assisted living, but there is potentially help for paying for home care (following certain parameters).
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Illinois and Missouri Elder Law attorney, discusses the types of long-term care Medicaid will pay for and the differences between coverage in Illinois and Missouri.
Does Medicaid Pay For Long-Term Care Other Than In A Nursing Home?
Transcript:
Hi, I’m Wes Coulson from Dent-Coulson Elder Law with offices in O’Fallon Illinois and in St. Louis across from Westport Plaza. This is another in our series of videos on Medicaid eligibility and today we are going to talk about what types of long-term care Medicaid is available to cover and pay for.
This is another one of those instances in which there is a difference between Missouri and Illinois law. In both cases, Medicaid pays for nursing home care in a nursing home in what’s known as a ‘Medicaid bed.’ Now, that term doesn’t have anything to do with the quality of care, it just means that the nursing home will accept Medicaid as a form of payment. But, beyond that the two states differ significantly.
In Illinois, there are a certain number of assisted living facilities that have been certified as what are known as ‘supportive living facilities’ and they are Medicaid providers. But, there is no assistance to help pay for home care.
In Missouri, there is no help with paying for assisted living, but there is potentially help for paying for home care. The basic parameters mean that you have to be physically at a point that you need a level of care that’s consistent with nursing home care, that you received that care from a home care agency that is on their approved list of providers, and that the amount of the benefit is going to be somewhat less than it would be to pay for nursing home care.
So, in either case there is an option. You just need to know what to look for and what applies and what doesn’t apply. Thanks.
For more information Medicaid eligibility, visit these articles:
- Medicaid Asset Allowance Increase in Missouri, But Not in Illinois
- Relief At Last From Illinois’ Medicaid Application Processing Delays
- Should I Let A Nursing Home Representative Complete My Medicaid Application?
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Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 or (314) 567-9292, or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
