Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 11, 2-3:30 pm
Location: Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Drive, Malta. A link to the location is here.
Topic: A general overview of Medicaid, presented by Saratoga County Department of Social Services staff.
Note: The November meeting will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, November 15, 2011, at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park. In commemoration of Homelessness Awareness Month, we will host a panel of presenters speaking on the topic of housing and the homeless.
**We will hold meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 2:00-3:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
“Our mission is to promote community awareness of the programs and services available to Saratoga County residents who are aging and/or disabled, and their caregivers, so as to better meet the needs of these ever increasing populations.”
Introductions & Announcements:
· Opening/Introduction - Cindy Harrington
· On September 10th, Cindy was honored for her work by the Saratoga Independent Living Fund.
· Attentive Home Companions will sponsor The Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, 9/24/11.
· Wesley Evergreen will host A Celebration of Adult Services Week, 9/19-9/23/11, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, at their new location in Ballston Spa.
· Last month's topic was "Understanding Medicare-Module 1A." Our thanks to Bill Bregenzer for his presentation.
· Our October meeting will be held on 10/11/11 at Saratoga United Methodist Church. The presenter will be Dr. Joyce Peabody, Saratoga Hospital vice president and chief medical officer. She will talk about the proposed Saratoga Hospital Community Health Center. Also joining us that day will be the new Director of Saratoga County Public Health, Karen Levison‚ MSHSA PTA.
DON'T FORGET: Our November meeting will be held on November 15th, the third Tuesday of the month, at St. Edward the Confessor Church, Clifton Park.
Today's topic is being presented by Saratoga County Department of Social Services staff members Kathy Thomson and Patty McConkey. They are here to provide a general overview of Medicaid, including specifics about eligibility and spend-downs. Questions are welcome.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
-Medicaid is public health insurance, provided through the county and the state, as opposed to Medicare, which is provided by the federal government.
-Medicaid also provides chronic care programs for women.
-Individuals can apply for Medicaid by calling and asking for an application.
-There is no face-to-face interview required.
-Additional documentation may be necessary.
-Approximately 30-45 days is necessary in order to process an application.
-A disability review can be requested.
-Applications are available online.
-Eligibility is based on income and resources.
- Completed Medicaid applications are turned over to eligibility workers who decide if additional documentation is needed.
Other health insurance programs, beyond Medicaid, are available. These include: Child Health+ for children and Family Health+ for those over the age of 18.
The term "Spend Down" generally applies to those who are disabled or to families with children. A "Spend Down" refers to reducing or eliminating income and/or resources, or to have costs count, in order to qualify for Medicaid.
There is a Medicaid "Buy In" for the working disabled. They can earn up to 200% of poverty level wages and still qualify.
There is a Medicaid savings program to help pay for Medicare.
Some recertification applications are being reviewed and processed in Albany. Ongoing eligibility is most often determined by New York Health Options.
Spousal Impoverishment Rules:
-The Medicaid Redesign Team has not yet determined the new rules on spousal impoverishment.
-If someone is applying for Nursing Home Diversion, spousal income is not considered.
Other rules concerning an applicant's home and/or other resources:
-The value of a person's home is not considered at the time of application.
-If a single person goes into a nursing home, a lien is put on any property he or she may own. Such a lien can apply for years with no action taken.
-There is a "look-back" period of 5 years, prior to application, concerning the transfer of any resources an applicant may have had.
-There is no penalty if an applicant's home is given to a spouse.
-If the child of the applicant has lived with him/her for two years prior to the applicant going into a nursing home, the home can be given to that child.
NHTD is the acronym for Nursing Home Transition Diversion. Nursing home coverage cannot be provided until a person actually needs nursing home care.
Consumer-Direct Long-Term Home Care:
-In-home care can be paid for by Medicaid if the care is being provided to a client by a family member, friend, neighbor, etc., who does not live with him/her.
-Payment for in-home care is not available if care is being provided by a spouse or someone else who lives in the client's home.
-Medicaid usually will pay for up to 4 hours/day of aide time.
-Twenty-four hour/day care will not be paid for.
-There are specialized programs to provide other types of services.
The NYS Department of Health has programs that provide education regarding the purchase of private long-term health care insurance.
Medicaid provides guidelines governing income and resources.
The main phone number for Medicaid in Saratoga County is 884-4148.
Variable Assistance is part of Public Assistance, not Medicaid.
If a client misses a recertification date (for example, if he/she is ill or is in the hospital), special consideration may be given, so that the person does not need to re-apply for Medicaid.
If someone is, or will be, long-term disabled (that is, for a period of time greater than one year), the budgeting amount available is greater than would normally be the case.
If a client is receiving SSD (that is, he/she is disabled but still works), he/she may still be eligible for Medicaid; however, a "spend down" may be required.
(NOTE: If a person is receiving SSI, he/she is unable to work.)
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Logan
Volunteer, RSVP
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