There is help for home-care bills
- Michelle Wood: SWCD
- March 6, 2018
- 1165
Dear Savvy Senior,
Do you know of any resources that can help with my mother’s home-care bills? Mom is recovering from a stroke and needs in-home care, but I understand Medicare doesn’t cover it, and she doesn’t have long-term care insurance.
Stressed-out Daughter
Dear Stressed-out,
Depending on your mom’s circumstances, there are a number of government and not-for-profit programs that can either subsidize or pay for your mom’s home care or offer aid in other ways. Here’s where to look for help.
Medicare coverage
If your mom is recovering from a stroke, the first thing you need to know is that Medicare does cover a variety of in-home health-care services. To be eligible, your mom must be “homebound,” and her doctor will need to approve a “plan of care” confirming that she needs skilled-nursing care or skilled-therapy services from a physical or speech therapist. Her doctor also can request the services of an occupational therapist and a nonmedical home aide to assist with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing and using the bathroom.
But be aware that Medicare will not pay for nonmedical home-aide services alone if your mom does not need skilled-nursing or skilled-therapy services too. Homemaker services such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are not covered either.
For more information on how this works, call 1-800-MEDICARE or see www.Medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services.html.
Medicaid options
If your mom’s income is low enough, she may qualify for Medicaid, which offers different programs that can pay for nonmedical home care, home health care and other in-home support services. These programs, often referred to as Home and Community Based Services, are state-specific, and their eligibility and benefits will vary. To find out if your mom is eligible, contact her state Medicaid agency (see www.Medicaid.gov).
State programs
If your mom doesn’t qualify for the Medicare or Medicaid options, check to see if her state offers any state-funded home-care programs. These programs may provide caregivers or vouchers that can help pay for care. To find out about these services, call the Area Agency on Aging near your mom. See www.ElderCare.gov or call 800-677-1116 for contact information.
Also investigate PACE, which stands for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE, which is currently available in 31 states, though not in every community, provides in-home care including help with activities of daily living such as meals, dental and medical care, prescriptions, and chaperoned transportation, among other benefits.
Medicaid-eligible patients get PACE for free, but if your mom is not eligible for Medicaid, she may be charged a monthly premium, though far less than she would pay a private service. To see if PACE is available in your mom’s area, see www.NPAonline.org.
Veterans benefits
If your mom is a veteran or a surviving spouse of a veteran, the VA also offers some benefits that can help pay her in-home care.
One is Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowances, which are supplemental monthly benefits for veterans already receiving a monthly VA pension and requiring health care. Veterans and surviving spouses qualify if they have certain disabilities or need help with activities such as dressing, bathing and feeding, among other criteria. Go to www.Vets.gov/pension for more information.
Another option is the Veteran-Directed Care program. This program, available through VA medical centers in 38 states as well as in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, provides as much as $2,000 a month, which can be used to pay a professional or family member or friend for home care. The program is open to any veteran who meets the criteria including requiring help with three or more activities of daily living. Visit the Home and Community Based Services section at www.VA.gov/geriatrics for information.
To look for additional programs in your area that can help pay your mom’s home care, go to www.PayingForSeniorCare.com and use their Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator tool.
Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.