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Financial Assistance
How do I pay for services?
There are a number of resources available to assist you
in paying for services:
- Medicare
- Medical Assistance
- Elderly Waiver
- Alternative Care
What is Medical Assistance?
Medical Assistance (MA) is a state health care program that
provides necessary medical services for disabled and elderly
(65 or older) Minnesotans who have limited income and
assets. MA pays for certain home health services such as
personal care, nursing services, and physical, occupational,
speech and respiratory therapies. If you are 65 and older
and participate in MA, you may receive home care services
under regular MA home care or through the
Elderly
Waiver (EW) program.
What is Elderly Waiver?
Elderly Waiver helps cover the cost of services for older
Minnesotans, age 65 and older, who are eligible for MA and
require the level of medical care provided in a nursing
home, but choose to reside in the community. Covered
services include visits by a skilled nurse, home health
aide, homemaker, companion, personal care assistant, as well
as home-delivered meals, adult day care, supplies and
equipment, home modifications, and certified community
residential services (assisted living, foster care,
residential care).
To qualify for Elderly Waiver, a senior must go through a
Long-Term
Care Consultation and be assigned a case manager (a
county public health nurse or county social worker). The
case manager will arrange services and monitor the
participant's well-being.
Am I eligible for Medical Assistance?
You must meet certain income and asset guidelines. They
change July 1 of each year, based
on changes in the Federal Poverty Guidelines. So you should
contact your local county social services staff for more
information. For specific guidelines, go to
Health Care Programs on the Department of Human Services
website.
Eligibility information for a married couple in which one
spouse lives at home and the other spouse lives in a nursing
home is available through the Office of Ombudsman for
Long-Term Care. Call 1-800-657-3591 or review
Nursing Home Tip
Sheets.
What if I have too much income?
Individuals who make more than MA income limits may still
qualify if they have enough medical bills to meet a
"spend down" (similar to an insurance deductible),
in which their medical bills exceed the difference between
their income and the MA standard. For example, if your
monthly income is $587 but medical expenses (such as
medications, home health care, clinic bills, etc.) exceed
$100, the person spends $100 for medical expenses and MA
pays any additional approved medical expenses.
To apply for Medical Assistance:
Fill out a
Minnesota
Health Care Programs application, mail or bring it to
your county human
services agency.
Contact your county human
services agency and a representative will help you
complete the application.
If you have questions about Medical Assistance, you may
call the
Office of
Ombudsman for Long-Term Care 1-800-657-3591.
What is Alternative Care?
Alternative
Care helps cover the costs of services for older
Minnesotans, age 65 and older, who are at risk of nursing
home placement and have low levels of income and assets.
Covered services include adult day care, adult foster care,
homemaker services, home health aides, personal care
assistance, case management, respite care, assisted living,
care-related supplies and equipment, home-delivered meals,
transportation, skilled nursing, chore services, companion
services, nutrition services, residential care services,
training for caregivers and modifications to the home.
To qualify for Alternative Care, a senior must go through
a Long-Term Care Consultation and be assigned a case manager
(a county public health nurse or county social worker). The
case manager will arrange services and monitor the
participant's well-being.
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