SO today I get a letter in the mail from our county's Department of Social Services informing me that “based on my DH's application he is eligible for Medical Assistance" (Medicaid). WOOHOO! When I placed Tom in the Veterans Home & they told me to apply for Medicaid the Medicaid Specialist did a guesstimate (like an estimate only a guess!) of how much Medicaid would pay towards his care & they only made me pay the amount after their guess of what Medicaid would pay. The good news is the Veterans Home under guessed what Medicaid would pay by $185. So all these months I've been paying $185 more than I had to. I don't think I'll get a refund it will just be a credit. Also the letter stated that they will also pay the premium for his Medicare part B. I don't know how much that is. I thought Medicare part A & B were a package deal.
Now for the bad news. The letter stated that the application was dated 12/17/13 so he was eligible starting 12/01/13. Well he was placed in October & the Medicaid Specialist at the Home said that when Medicaid was approved it would be retroactive from the day of placement. So now I have to find out if I'm going to owe the Home the full payment for October & November. Why is there always a catch when you get good news? Anyway the wait is over. Now on to other issues. PTL!
Elaine, I am so glad for you that you have your Medicaid approved and that the wait is over. And yes, it never seems that we get good news without something negative in the package. Did you get anything in writing about the retroactive to day of placement, or was it just what the Medicaid Specialist told you?
bqd, good question. I'll have to look at my paper work tomorrow. I'm also going to take copies of the Medicaid letter to the Veterans Home specialist who helped me fill out the paperwork. She will have an answer for me I'm sure.
ElaineH, Medicare Part A is part of your benefits and has no charge, Medicare Part B premiums are deducted from you SS payment each month. I looked up ours from last year and it was $99.90 per month per person. Hope this is helpful to you. Glad to hear you are going to get Medicaid. It is so expensive out of pocket that it is unaffordable for all but the very rich.