How to Determine if Your State Accepts Medicaid for Assisted Living Facilities

The federal program called Medicaid, run by individual states and the District of Columbia, assists low-income people who can't afford health care. Although it doesn't send you cash assistance, it makes payments directly to health care providers for your medical services such as examinations. The Social Security Act, section 1915(c) allows the government to set money aside through the Medicaid Waiver Program. The program covers your assisted living facilities expenses. If you don't want to reside in a nursing home, the task of finding out if your state pays for assisted living facilities requires some work.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand what the Medicaid Waiver Program covers. Since Medicaid pays for nursing homes too, you need to be specific about seeking information about the assisted living program.

• 2

  Contact the state Medicaid office through the Department of Health & Human Services in your area. Ask if your state office participates in the Medicaid Waiver Program to pay for assisted living programs.

• 3

  Select the assisted living facility. Research the facilities available in your area. Also, take a tour of all the facilities to narrow down your options. Ask if the facility accepts Medicaid and the percentage of rooms it sets aside for Medicaid eligible residents.