Medicaid assisted living basics
For many seniors who are considering a move to assisted living, plus their families, one significant area that’s often considered is cost. Assisted living costs can be a strain on some budgets, but Medicaid may also be very helpful to many people and families who are in this situation and looking for some assistance. 

At Avamere at Mountain Ridge, we’re happy to offer a caring assisted living community for Ogden and South Ogden seniors, plus assistance with important topics like cost coverage and Medicaid. In this two-part blog series, we’ll look at all the key factors to consider when it comes to ensuring that as much of your assisted living costs are covered as possible.

What is Medicaid?

Firstly, for those who are just reaching senior age or who have not yet had to consider Medicaid for their family’s needs, it can be useful to get a basic understanding of what Medicaid is and how it works. Medicaid is a federal program designed to provide health coverage for individuals who meet certain income and resource requirements.

In many states, Medicaid may also provide additional benefits such as prescription drug coverage, in-home care and assisted living. The type of coverage available depends on the state in which you live, so it’s important to research your particular state’s rules.

How can Medicaid help with assisted living costs?

Depending on the state where you live, Medicaid may be able to help cover some or all of the costs associated with assisted living. Here are a few of the costs that will typically be covered in most states:

  • Personal care services: These typically include help with bathing, dressing, eating, and other activities of daily living. They may also include help with medical appointments and other activities scheduled outside the home.
  • Nursing and therapy services: These typically include things like wound care, physical therapy, and other nursing-related services.
  • Medication management: This can include help with taking medications, setting up medication reminders and managing any other medication-related issues.
  • Transportation services: These typically include help with getting to and from doctor appointments, shopping trips, and other activities outside the home.

However, on the flip side, Medicaid will typically not cover room and board for assisted living communities. There may be some situations where Medicaid will provide coverage for room and board, but this is usually only in certain cases.

It’s important to note that Medicaid can also change its rules from year to year, so it’s important to keep up with any changes in the eligibility criteria or other requirements. This can help ensure you are getting the most out of your coverage.

In part two of our series, we’ll look at some other factors to consider when looking at Medicaid coverage for assisted living costs. For more here, or to learn about any of our assisted living community programs, speak to our caring staff with Avamere at Mountain Ridge today.