Patients in need of long term care can in some cases qualify for needed coverage through Medicaid programs. Patients need to be informed about long term Medicaid services to get coverage for the particular health care services they need.
The following are six things to know about long term Medicaid services.
Long term Medicaid services are not only for the elderly.
Long term Medicaid services can be used in many situations. They are not only a means of acquiring coverage for elderly patients.
Long term Medicaid services can also be used for coverage of long term care needed by a young patient. Younger patients receiving such Medicaid coverage may have experienced an injury leading to the need for long term treatment and possibly the need for assistance with everyday living tasks.
Long term Medicaid services are need based.
Unlike Medicare, Medicaid refers to coverage that a patient benefits from due to financial need. On the other hand, Medicare is available to Americans over the age of 65 regardless of their financial situation.
Long term Medicaid could cover both assisted living facility treatment and in-home services.
In many cases, long term Medicaid will cover the costs of residence in an assisted living facility. At the same time, long term Medicaid could also be used to provide coverage for scenarios where health care professionals go to a patient's home to provide needed care.
Long term Medicaid services generally vary by state.
Another important thing that patients need to realize about long term Medicaid is that Medicaid programs are administered on a state level. This means that Medicaid coverage for long term care needs can vary widely depending on the state in which the patient resides.
There may be some out-of-pocket costs.
The long term Medicaid services that are covered under Medicaid might not necessarily cover all of the costs of the treatment and care that a patient needs.
For example, long term Medicaid might require that patients pay for certain room and board expenses while at the same time covering the needed medical treatment services. It's important that patients understand what their out-of-pocket costs will be when they apply for long term Medicaid.
It's free to apply for long term Medicaid services.
Not all individuals will qualify for long term Medicaid. Patients must apply and be approved for coverage based on a variety of factors. Fortunately, it's completely free for patients to undergo the process of applying for Medicaid coverage.
