Perhaps you or your elderly loved one are looking towards long-term care. You are considering getting the care at home rather than in an assisted living facility. But your question is, “Will Medicaid cover the cost of my home care?”
Since most seniors now prefer to be cared for at home rather than in an assisted living facility, all US states now offer Medicaid to cover some home care (sometimes called home health care). In Brooklyn, Home Care is covered by Medicaid through Managed Long-term Care (MLTC) and the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
Types of home care covered by Medicaid in Brooklyn
Home health care for seniors typically includes:
- Skilled Nursing
- Home health aide services such as offering medication and bathing assistance
- Meal preparation and feeding
- Home cleaning and general sanitation
- Special therapy sessions.
So, if you enroll for the MLTC or CDPAP Medicaid programs, you can get assistance from doctors, skilled nurses, personal care assistants, and therapists in your home, with the cost covered by Medicaid.
It is worth noting that prescription drugs are not covered by Medicaid but by Medicare.
Eligible Medicaid applicants looking to get their home care in Brooklyn covered by Medicaid should apply for any of the following Medicaid programs.
Managed Long-Term Care (MTLC) Program
The MTLC is a Medicaid program established for eligible individuals with chronic diseases and/or disabilities who prefer to get their care at home. The state of New York requires Medicaid-eligible individuals above 21 who are in need of community-based long-term care to apply for managed long-term care plans.
This program optimizes the assistance the home caregiver offers their loved one. It also provides the external professionals necessary for professional care, such as skilled nurses, personal care assistants, etc.
The MTLC comprises a plan; it is best to consult with an elder law attorney to know which is best for you.
Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)
Sometimes, the MLTC agency may provide a third-party financial body offering the services typically provided by a personal care assistant. The Medicaid participant will be the one to hire the personal care assistant. He or she is thus in the driver’s seat, having the authority to hire who will care for them.
In summary, several Medicaid programs will cover your home care. You need to know what’s right for you so that you can live your final days in comfort.
It is best to consult an elder law attorney near you to get more insight into what Medicaid program to enroll in.
Knowing whether you are eligible for Medicaid in Brooklyn
Medicaid is a program that covers the healthcare cost of long-term care for low-income Americans who cannot afford the high cost of assisted living.
Notably, Medicaid caters to people of all ages, unlike Medicare. It caters to children and older adults, each with their own requirements.
The following persons can apply for Medicaid:
- Adults earning below $884 monthly and having an estate worth less than $15,900
- Pregnant women
- Single individuals
- Children below 18
- Someone having blindness or other disability
- Parents and caretakers
- New York residents
- Legal aliens.
- An individual with huge medical bills
Eligibility for Medicaid is typically determined by your income. If you earn over the limit of $884 monthly with an estate worth over $15,900, you may not qualify for Medicaid.
Types of Medicaid in Brooklyn
There are different types of Medicaid. The type you fall within or apply for will determine whether your home care gets covered by Medicaid.
The three types of Medicaid in Brooklyn
- Institutional/Nursing home Medicaid – The benefits here are an entitlement to eligible individuals, and the benefits are provided only in a nursing home.
- Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) – This is not an entitlement. The number of eligible applicants is limited, and care can be provided in a nursing facility, at home, or adult day care.
- Regular Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled – The benefits are an entitlement to all eligible applicants and can be provided at home or adult day care. If the applicant is married but applying alone, their income limit is $1,300, while the asset limit is $23,400.
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Call our law firm if you have questions or need help with your long-term care in Brooklyn.
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