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barbyboo Asked May 2016

If you are on Medicaid, are your choices of places to stay for assisted living limited?

My sister is convinced that if we try to qualify for Medicaid, we would be condemning my mom to a place that is very low in standards. She is currently in assisted living and may have to go into memory care, but would we not have our choice of facility?

Sunnygirl1 May 2016
Angel is right. Our state (NC) and some others do provide payment for Assisted Living and Memory Care AL for those who a doctor says must have it. (It's a state program.) But, it's my understanding that some states only option is Medicaid, which only pays for Nursing Home care. That's for those who need daily skilled nursing care.

Maybe, someone from Texas will add their experience here.

Angelkw May 2016
I would like to add to sunny girl's answer ... Most assisted living facilities do not take Medicaid. Generally Medicaid covers skilled nursing facilities and memory care but not assisted living. There are a choice few assisted living facilities that do take medicaid however they normally have long waiting lists, and special permissions from doctors need to be given.

Is there a chance that your mom is ready for a skilled nursing facility? If so, there are usually a LOT of choices and the settings and services vary greatly.It's best to visit as many as you can before you make your choice (make sure to check the waiting lists' lengths too)

Angel

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Sunnygirl1 May 2016
I suppose it depends on the state. Is she located in Texas? In NC, the state pays for those who need Assisted Living by doctor's orders (disabled) through something called Special Assistance. I suppose some other states have something similar. I checked Texas info online and found that they have had a lot of changes lately. They recommend getting help with a Medicaid Professional Planner before applying. I would do that to see where she stands.

In our state, there are many wonderful regular Assisted Living facilities and a few Memory Care Assisted Living facilities that accept NC Special Assistance. (Medicaid like programs.) The only difference that I have seen is that private pay may get a private room and Medicaid recipients don't get a private room. Everything else appears to be the same.

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