The median cost of a nursing home in Arkansas is around $250 a day. Most families will need assistance with this payment at some point, and Medicaid can be a great help in paying for long-term care. To qualify, the recipient must have limited income and assets. 

     Nursing homes generally accept patients who can pay for their care, and Medicaid only pays if the applicant is already living in a nursing home. This can create an issue, as you have to get your loved one into a nursing home to start receiving Medicaid. Here are some methods that you can use to find your loved one a nursing home during this process:

• Private Pay – Paying out of pocket is the easiest way to get your loved one into a nursing home while utilizing the resident’s assets to spend down to qualify. Residents who can pay privately for a few months can file a Medicaid application once they are in a nursing home and start receiving benefits when their funds are below the state’s threshold for countable assets.  Be sure to check if the nursing home accepts Medicaid patients and get the timing right so the resident does not run out of funds before the Medicaid application is approved.  Once Medicaid is approved, they’ll backpay the nursing home to the date of application.
• Medicare– Medicare provides nursing home coverage for 20 to 100 days per illness. The patient, however, must enter the nursing home no more than 30 days after a hospital stay of at least 3 days. They must receive a level of care that cannot be provided at home or as an outpatient. Medicare also only covers care for people who are likely to recover from it. 
• Medicaid Pending – Some nursing homes will only accept a resident who has applied for Medicaid and is in a pending status. Usually, only a few nursing homes will take in these kinds of patients, and they tend to rank lower in ratings for nursing home quality.

     Please Be Careful When You Sign a nursing home admission agreement. Nursing homes may try to get family members to pay their loved ones’ bills if their application is denied. Make sure to read all contracts and have your attorney assist.  The bottom line is never to sign your own name to an agreement.  Have the elderly person sign themselves, or you sign in your capacity as Power of Attorney or Guardian.

     The best way to protect your future is to contact your local elder law attorney. They will ensure that you make the right plan for your and your family’s future.