Will Medicaid pay for a person's cremation if their family can’t afford to?

Hangingon61-
If you aren't comfortable with your mom leaving her body for medical research then that option is off the table. But just for the record, Catholics are absolutely allowed to do that. Catholics are allowed to donate organs too. Those things are considered to be a "noble act".

If your mother prepaid for her cremation, you can keep the cremains until the time you can afford to bury with your sister. VA generally pays only for the veteran, not spouse. Although if your father is buried in a VA cemetery, your mother’s Cremains May be buried on top. Are there family or friends who can help pay?

I thought your mother prepaid something or are you still trying to put her in your sister and getting someone to open that burial spot. Medicaid is not going to pay. Access the reverse mortgage you’ve talked about to get money to pay for this. Or if only cremation is paid, keep her creaminess at your home. The government does not have money to pay for these services.

Talk to the Hospice Nurse. Maybe she knows some resources. Call you local Funeral director and ask him/her. Call your local Welfare/Social Service office. I know my state has something so I would think all states would. All that will be done probably is the cremation and a box. I doubt they will pay for services but they may.

Like said, if Dad or Mom was a Vet check that out.

Hanging, is there no way that you can access some of the RM money for cremation?

It depends on the laws of your state. You want to research "indigent burials". The Medicaid office for your state should have some information for you.

I know I read an article about indigent burials in Massachusetts. The article stated that the amount the state would pay to a funeral director to handle remains of someone who died indigent had not been increased since the 1970s and did not even cover the funeral home's costs. The result was that the only funeral homes still handling indigent remains were doing it as a public service. So, you can imagine how many indigent burials they could support and still support their business.

Was your mom or her husband a veteran? Sometimes they have programs to help with burials. If you or your mom are members of a church or other religious group, they might have financial help available for this purpose. You might also investigate leaving her body to science. I'm sorry. This must be just adding an extra layer of difficulty when you are already losing your mom.

No, Medicaid will not pay. Ask a funeral home about getting financial help.