Government Assistance for Medical Costs

Many people look to the government to help pay long-term care costs. Sadly, they find out there are specific eligibility requirements or the benefits are for a limited time period. Long-term care insurance can help ensure you or your loved one gets the care they need, regardless of if you qualify for government aid. Note: Long-term care insurance doesn’t replace Medicare coverage.

Medicare

Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and certain disabled individuals under the age of 65, is not designed to cover long-term care expenses. Medicare may cover short-term nursing home costs if the individual qualifies. To qualify, you must:

Spend at least three days as an inpatient in the hospital, just prior to entering a nursing home. Even if you stay overnight, you might not be considered an inpatient, ask your doctor or hospital.
Be in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility.
Be receiving skilled care. Skilled care is given for a short period of time when you need skilled nursing or rehabilitations staff to manage, observe and evaluate your care.

If you qualify, Medicare may cover, for each benefit period:

All approved charges for the first 20 days.
A portion of the costs for the next 80 days. Your co-payment is required.
Nothing after 100 days. Those costs become your responsibility.

Medicare may also provide benefits for home health care if you meet each of these four conditions:

Your doctor must decide that you need medical care in your home, and make a plan for your care at home. Your doctor must regularly review your plan of care.
You must need at least one of the following: intermittent (and not full time) skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech language pathology services, or continue to need occupational therapy. If you need more than part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, you may not be eligible for the home health benefit.
You must be homebound. This means that you are normally unable to leave home. Being homebound means that leaving home is a major effort. When you leave home, it must be infrequent, for a short time such as medical appointments or to attend religious services.
The home health agency caring for you must be approved by the Medicare program (Medicare-certified).

You can purchase a Medicare supplement insurance policy to cover Medicare's co-payments and deductibles. Learn about Thrivent Financial's Medicare Supplement Insurance.

For more information about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state health program designed to help provide payment for medical and health services for low-income individuals who meet certain financial criteria. It is one of the largest payers of long-term care costs today. Unfortunately, that means many people may have gone through the asset liquidation process known as "spend down" before qualifying. It is only after liquidating assets and reducing income to allowable limits that Medicaid provides help to individuals who need long-term care.

Please be aware that the federal government has passed legislation to discourage asset transfers to qualify for Medicaid, including look-back periods and penalty periods. Transferring assets to qualify for Medicaid may result in legal and financial consequences.

The eligibility rules for Medicaid are complex and they are different from state to state. Consult an elder law attorney or your local Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Social Services for specific information and advice.

For more information about Medicaid, visit www.cms.gov.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Goverment or the Federal Medicare program. Not available in all states.