| Medicaid, unlike Medicare, covers long term care | | | | The cost for Nursing Home Care can easily run |
| services. Medicaid, unlike Medicare, which is funded | | | | $55,000 per year with the cost more than doubling in |
| federally, is covered by the state so guidelines vary | | | | major metropolitan and hard to reach cities. Middle |
| from state to state. To meet the guidelines for | | | | income families are caught in a precarious position |
| Medicaid you must be under a certain income and | | | | because Medicaid is designed for low income families |
| asset cutoff. The problem facing many family | | | | that cannot afford health care insurance. They get no |
| caregivers is Medicaid typically covers nursing home | | | | help from Medicare because Medicare doesn't fund |
| and assisted living care costs but does not fund home | | | | long-term care. |
| health care. More often than not, these benefits go | | | | To make Medicaid a more equitable alternative, |
| directly to the providers and the beneficiaries do not | | | | Congress has passed legislation that allows families to |
| have much control over where the Medicaid funding | | | | spend down. By "spending down", Congress means |
| goes. Legislation is being passed that gives family | | | | the family can deplete their assets to qualify for |
| caregivers more control over where their Medicaid | | | | Medicaid. In the past, for a couple to spend down |
| benefit go- oftern referred to as the "Cash and | | | | enough to qualify for Medicaid, one of the spouses |
| Counseling" method. | | | | (often the wife) had to reach a point where she did |
| Several states including Arkansas, New Jersey, and | | | | not have enough income to spend on what she |
| Florida are implementing Cash and Counseling | | | | needed to live. |
| demonstrations that give beneficiaries direct control | | | | After the 2007 changes to the Medicaid guidelines, |
| over where they choose to spend their Medicaid | | | | community spouses are allowed $1,650 to $2,541 a |
| benefits. Many beneficiaries choose to pay family | | | | month in income and between $20,328 and $191,640 in |
| members and independent home health aides for care. | | | | assets, in addition to their car, house, and other person |
| The program has proven to be extremely successful | | | | belongings, to be eligible for nursing home funding. |
| and is expanding into many other states. | | | | |