Medicaid, a federal and state program that provides health coverage benefits to many people, including senior citizens, covers basic health care costs and long-term care – care provided in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Many seniors rely on their Medicaid benefits for their long-term care. The prospect of having a Medicaid application denied can induce anxiety as loss of these benefits can be financially devastating.

Below are ten reasons your loved one’s application may be denied and steps to take to best ensure it doesn’t happen. 

1. Incomplete Application or Documents.

If you’ve ever applied for anything through a government agency, you’ve heard the refrain – Make sure to bring all your paperwork!  That’s certainly true for the Medicaid application which requires the submission of extensive documentation.

 Aside from providing proof of age, identity, marital status and citizenship, there are numerous financial documents necessary, including: bank statements, investment account statements, life insurance policy information, asset and other property information, tax returns and retirement income information. These documents are required to determine financial eligibility and are an essential part of the application.  Don’t leave home without them!

For a full checklist of required documentation, please refer to the Senior Planning website www.seniorplanning.com/document-checklist

The Medicaid eligibility application process can be very stressful for applicants and their families. Allow Senior Planning to take on the comprehensive Medicaid eligibility process for you or your loved one. Thousands of Medicaid applicants and their families have relied on the expertise of Senior Planning Services. We’re here to help.
Senior Planning makes the Medicaid eligibility application process simple. This video shows the pride our employees take in our company and how they make a difference in seniors’ lives.

Transcript: We put together such a great company, such great employees, employees that really care, who are passionate about what they do. And it’s just a great thing to see so many skilled people that are so great at what they do together to make such a difference to the lives of thousands and thousands of seniors.

Learn more at: https://www.seniorplanning.com/ or call us at 1-855-775-2664.

The Medicaid eligibility application process can be very stressful for applicants and their families. Allow Senior Planning to take on the comprehensive Medicaid eligibility process for you or your loved one. Thousands of Medicaid applicants and their families have relied on the expertise of Senior Planning Services. We’re here to help.
Senior Planning Services’ case managers are so much more than just Medicaid experts. Our case managers go the extra mile for their clients. Watch this video for more insight into how we handle the Medicaid eligibility process.

Transcript: When you have family members that are going through a tough time, they need that extra love. That’s really what we strive for and make sure that we are there for our families. So our goal really is to lift the entire burden off our clients’ shoulder.

Learn more at: https://www.seniorplanning.com/ or call us at 1-855-775-2664.

The Medicaid eligibility application process can be very stressful for applicants and their families. Allow Senior Planning to take on the comprehensive Medicaid eligibility process for you or your loved one. Thousands of Medicaid applicants and their families have relied on the expertise of Senior Planning Services. We’re here to help.
Allow Senior Planning’s skilled case managers to handle your entire Medicaid eligibility application process from start to finish. This video demonstrates our case managers’ role in the Medicaid process.

Transcript: We don’t just offer a financial service. You’re assigned a case manager who is going to hold your hand through the entire process and be your point of contact. It makes it a really simple and enjoyable process for the seniors, the families and the organizations that are providing the care.

Learn more at: https://www.seniorplanning.com/ or call us at 1-855-775-2664.

Nursing homes are a necessary part of end-of-life care for many individuals. They provide care for seniors who are no longer able to receive care in their own homes, but who don’t require the level of care offered by a hospital. Until recently, nursing homes were rigid and institutionalized, more focused on rules and regulations than on quality of life for their residents. Now, culture is changing throughout many nursing homes to one of resident-centered care. They want their residents to feel as though they’re at home, as comfortable as possible in spite of their medical challenges. Knowing what to look for in a nursing home can help you find the one that’s right for your needs.

The Initial Search

When you’re looking for a nursing home, it helps to start with referrals. You may find that others in your community already have plenty of experience with the nursing homes in the area. Listen to what they have to say about those nursing homes and educate yourself as much as possible about the ones in your area that receive positive reviews—as well as the ones that stand out in negative ways. Then, ask yourself these questions:

What are my medical needs going to look like throughout the duration of my stay? If you know that your medical condition will worsen over the next few months or years, you’ll need to take that into consideration. Make sure that the nursing home is equipped with everything you’ll need for your increasing medical challenges.

How close is the nursing home to my loved ones? You want to be sure that your nursing home is easily accessible to the people who mean the most to you so that they can visit often throughout your time there.

Looking Deeper

After you’ve found a nursing home that you think will answer your needs, you can plan a visit to look it over. Talk with the residents, staff, and medical professionals who work with the nursing home if possible. There are several things that you should look for on this visit.

The Facility: Take in the sights and sounds of the nursing home as you walk through, using all of your senses. Do residents sound happy? Is it easily accessible to their family members? What about the food: does it look appetizing? Use all of your senses. While a “medical” smell isn’t uncommon, if the nursing home smells dirty, unclean, or otherwise unpleasant, it might not be the right place for you. Also, look over the amenities offered by the facility. A pleasant seating area for visiting with friends and family, comfortable rooms, and other options will make your stay in the nursing home more pleasant and make you feel like you’re at home. Examine the facility design and the options offered in the rooms. Evaluate the friendly, professional nature of the staff. All of these things will help you develop an accurate view of the facility.

The Residents: Take the opportunity to speak with some of the residents. Get a feel for the overall mood of the nursing home population. Are families visiting cheerfully? Are conversations generally pleasant? Feel free to ask residents what they think of their experience in this nursing home and take the time to talk with a few of them. Do their personalities seem to fit with yours? What about their attitudes? As you talk with the residents, you’ll be able to discern whether or not your personality will mesh with others in the nursing home.

The Nursing Home Quality Report: A look at the quality report will give you a good idea of the overall quality of the home. There will be an overall rating that gives you an idea of what qualified professionals think of the nursing home quality. You’ll get a look at the number of registered nurses on the staff, their health inspection, and other important information. The quality report will also help you assess how the admission process works.

Don’t forget about cost. Ultimately, the cost and payment options available in many nursing homes will determine whether or not they are a viable option for you. The most wonderful nursing home facility in your area still needs to have reasonable payment options. It’s also important to know whether or not your nursing home will work with your existing insurance or Medicaid coverage—which may help pay for your nursing home stay.

Being educated about nursing home care and the options in your area will help you make informed decisions about nursing home care. Planning ahead will prevent you from making unexpected, hasty decisions. You may spend many years in a nursing home. Seeking out the information you need ahead of time will allow you to be comfortable throughout those years.

To find out whether you are eligible for Medicaid coverage, please visit our FAQs page or call us today for your free Medicaid consultation.