DOES MEDICAID PAY AN ASSISTED LIVING BILL?
In most states, including Colorado, it is possible to have Medicaid pay for certain services even if you are living in an assisted living facility. The facility, however, must be “Medicaid certified, “so you will want to make sure about that when you are searching for a facility to move in to. Keep in mind, however, that the facilities cost of basic room and board will not be paid for by Medicaid as it would be if you resided in a nursing home.
If you are in an actual nursing home, Medicaid will pay the full cost including room and board. Be aware that not all facilities accept Medicaid payments. This is extremely important to know before you sign up for a nursing home. While it is against the law for a nursing home to evict you because you ran out of money and must go from private pay status to Medicaid, this protection does not apply if the nursing home does not accept Medicaid from anyone. So, be certain to ask. It is very upsetting to the nursing home resident to have to relocate from one nursing home to another after finally accepting the fact that they are in a nursing home for good, but have gotten used to the routine, made friends and become acquainted with the nurses, etc. Having a skilled Colorado elder law attorney and/or and experienced geriatric care manager will help the search for a facility make sense for everyone’s needs and budget.