I recently helped a client move to a supportive living community, which is assisted living supported by Medicaid. The term Medicaid refers to the Federal and state programs that fund long-term care for people who cannot afford to pay privately. Supportive living provides the senior with standby assistance for activities of daily living, meaning bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, walking, and eating. The senior lives in his or her own apartment and enjoys oversight provided by a nurse, three meals a day, and options for activities.
The following is a checklist of items needed for application and approval for long-term care covered by Medicaid, whether it be for supportive living or a nursing home:
Red, white and blue Medicare card
Social Security card for resident and spouse, if living
Social Security award letter for resident and spouse, if living
Naturalization papers for immigrants
Driver’s license or photo ID/Passport
Health insurance cards, premium amount (premium notice)
Birth/Marriage/Death/Divorce certificates
Military service record, Veteran’s pension award letter, and VA nursing home contract
Pay stubs for the past 3 months, statement from employer as to employment status
Unemployment/Workmen’s Compensation documentation, if applicable
Proof of money from other sources (loans, gifts, rental income, and boarders)
Property: Tax bill, mortgage contract(s), title, deed, request to exempt property from sale and supporting documentation, realtor listing/contract, appraisal, closing papers
Title and registration for all vehicles
All individual and group Life insurance policies, proof of current CASH and FACE value of all policies
Proof of ownership and value of burial lots and pre-paid burial plans/policies
Statement of gross amount of pensions for resident and spouse, if living
Last 5 years of income tax returns and attachments/schedules
Bank statements for the past 5 years, written explanation for any expenditure of more than $500 during the past 5 years; IRAs, CDs, trust funds, stocks/securities, bonds, documented contents of safety deposit boxes
Other investments or assets
Acknowledgement: Checklist kindly shared by Lexington Healthcare of Lombard
Many of my clients groan when they see this list. However, I have to say that the most time-consuming item is the five years’ worth of bank statements and documentation of any transaction that was over $500. You will need to provide a copy of the cancelled check for each transaction. Sometimes, it can take the bank several weeks to produce the documents. There may or may not be a service fee processing charge involved. Sometimes, items are omitted, resulting in several trips back to the bank for correction. A key tip is to plan ahead and not procrastinate.
If the application is approved, your loved one is allowed to keep $90.00 a month for personal expenses.