You can go online to your county's Health and Human Services website and download the form. Or call and request one be mailed. If your husband (and you) do not have complicated finances, the form shouldn't be difficult for you to fill out. You will need to provide printed copies of bank statements (several months), investments, etc. You will need to know and provide his SSN, birth date, etc. Once you start the app, finish it as quickly as possible and mail it right away because the county wants the most current financial info.
FYI there is a 5 year "look back" period for this application. This means they will look into any transferring of monies, assets and property within the past 5 years. They won't leave the spouse broke, and will not take the house or car until both people are out/gone. But if there were any shifting around of funds or assets during the last 5 years, it may disqualify or delay his qualifying. Make a copy of everything before you send it in. Depending on which state you reside in, the wait time for an answer can be 3 months or more. If, after you mail in the application, you receive a letter from that department please open it immediately as they may be requesting newer or different info, AND there is a deadline to submit it, which is usually very fast, like within a week. Otherwise you may be required to fill out a whole new form.
One suggestion about getting him on Medicaid before getting him into a nursing home: NHs only reserve a few rooms for their Medicaid residents. The people who are already living in the NH get first priority for those rooms. Often there are waiting lists for non-residents and the waits can be long. We got my MIL into a good facility right before she ran out of money. Once she ran out, then she applied. The facility cannot kick her out if she is already a resident. But it will mean your husband will always have a shared room. Other than that he will get the same care as everyone else. When you do search for a place for him, I strongly recommend that it have a continuum of care (from AL to LTC to MC to hospice) -- AND make sure that they do accept Medicaid (not every facility does). Good luck!
Mojomama, doesn't say where you live, but lookback in California is only 2 years. So bonus if you are here (but cost of living out of sight of course).
FYI there is a 5 year "look back" period for this application. This means they will look into any transferring of monies, assets and property within the past 5 years. They won't leave the spouse broke, and will not take the house or car until both people are out/gone. But if there were any shifting around of funds or assets during the last 5 years, it may disqualify or delay his qualifying. Make a copy of everything before you send it in. Depending on which state you reside in, the wait time for an answer can be 3 months or more. If, after you mail in the application, you receive a letter from that department please open it immediately as they may be requesting newer or different info, AND there is a deadline to submit it, which is usually very fast, like within a week. Otherwise you may be required to fill out a whole new form.
One suggestion about getting him on Medicaid before getting him into a nursing home: NHs only reserve a few rooms for their Medicaid residents. The people who are already living in the NH get first priority for those rooms. Often there are waiting lists for non-residents and the waits can be long. We got my MIL into a good facility right before she ran out of money. Once she ran out, then she applied. The facility cannot kick her out if she is already a resident. But it will mean your husband will always have a shared room. Other than that he will get the same care as everyone else. When you do search for a place for him, I strongly recommend that it have a continuum of care (from AL to LTC to MC to hospice) -- AND make sure that they do accept Medicaid (not every facility does). Good luck!