ISO a state by state comparison for Medicaid services for elder parents

[Anonymous]

I am trying to prepare myself for taking care of my parents since they are getting older and having medical problems. I am an only child. If my parents need in-home or nursing facilities, they will likely have to go on Medicaid eventually because they do not have a large estate at all. I am trying to figure out if it would be best to move them here (DC or MD) or keep them where they are in CA (we can travel out to see them because we go there a lot).

Does anyone know where I can find a state-by-state guide to Medicaid services? I am trying to figure out if it is better to keep them in CA or move them out, based on the Medicaid benefits.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I work in Medicaid. It changes quickly depending on budgets of the state and policy changes. I would make a decision based on what is better location wise, in the end there are too many variables to plan for now. Also, nursing care for elderly at the end can be terrible. The facilities that take Medicaid are very poor. You'd prefer is my guess to have them in a nicer place or with you and with side nursing care.
Medicaid won't pay for a regular nursing home

[Anonymous]

Medicaid won't pay until they're bankrupt basically. They either need to pay for it themselves or you do.

[Anonymous]

We moved my MIL from CA to MD and placed her in a nursing home via MD medicaid. CA medicaid covers more - i.e. dental care and vision checks and has a higher threshold for income. I would move them here as its best to visit at least weekly and the staff see someone is coming eyes on. Many of the families where my MIL is at have noticed those with family involvement (eyes on, not calls) get much better care. You basically have to have no assets for either state and only allowed to keep $2500 in cash at any time (probably higher for a couple). Medicaid/nursing home takes all but $75 for personal care so buy new clothing/items they will need in the future as a spend down.

We are in a top rated facility. It is hard to get someone in as a medicaid patient because you go in medicaid pending. The gov't will not allow pre approval so basically the nursing home takes the hit in less you or they can private pay for a while (best bet to get them in private pay and then transition over) Not all medicaid places are bad, just most. Medicaid will pay for regular nursing home care if you meet the criteria. Not sure what the PP is talking about as we were able to do it. There are different kinds of medicaid. There is regular medicaid and long term care medicaid. Long term care has a different application process.