1 Assisted Living Community in Spring Hill, Kansas

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,050 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 1 Assisted Living Community in Spring Hill and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Spring Hill, KS

• Assisted Living: $4,050
• Nursing Home Care: $5,582
• In-home Care: $4,004
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,733

The 2018 Genworth Cost of Care study reveals that the monthly cost of assisted living in Spring Hill is just $50 above the national average of $4,000 and about $500 below the state average ($4,556). In fact, Spring Hill has substantially lower assisted living rates than all other surveyed cities in Kansas. Costs here are about $1,300 lower than in Topeka ($5,300) and Lawrence ($5,265) and over $1,000 less than in Manhattan ($5,100). The closest comparable city is Wichita, where assisted living prices are still almost $700 more expensive.

Note: Data on senior care costs wasn’t available for Spring Hill, so data for the nearby Kansas City, Missouri, area was used.

Various factors beyond location influence the rates senior care options within a community. These include the number of service hours provided, the skill level of offered services and where the care takes place. In Spring Hill, adult day health services, which offer weekday care in a group setting, are the least costly option. Nursing homes cost the most because they offer round-the-clock care in residential surroundings and skilled nursing services. Homemaker and home health aide services are fairly close cost-wise to assisted living. The major difference is that assisted living is offered in a residential setting and usually includes room and board. In-home care rates are based on service hours only and don’t cover rent, utilities, maintenance, food and other living expenses.

 

Medicaid is the national public health insurance program for those with low incomes and few resources. The program is funded jointly by the federal government and individual states and is administered at the state level according to federal guidelines.

The state Medicaid program, known as KanCare, provides health care coverage to Kansas families with young children, pregnant women, those with disabilities and the elderly. For applicants who meet specific eligibility requirements, KanCare provides a range of services, including:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital services
• Preventive care such as vaccines and wellness checks
• Lab and X-ray services
• Prescription drugs
• Medical transportation
• Home and community-based services
• Nursing home care
• Dental care

To qualify for full KanCare coverage for long-term care and community-based services, such as assisted living, Spring Hill residents must be U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens and:

• Be aged 65 or older or permanently disabled if younger
• Be assessed as needing a nursing facility level of care
• Have $2,000 or less in total countable assets per person
• Have a monthly income of $771 or less per person or $1,157 for a married couple

Applicants who apply and are approved for Supplemental Security Income benefits qualify for KanCare coverage without having to file a separate application. Those with a monthly income above $727 who are approved for KanCare home and community-based services must contribute toward the cost of their care.

Income from all sources counts toward the eligibility limit, but some assets are disregarded, including a primary home, burial plans, home furnishings, personal effects and one car.

KanCare offers two pathways to qualify for coverage for those who are over the income and asset limits: 

• A married applicant whose spouse doesn’t apply may have excess income of up to $3,160.50 disregarded and half the value of joint assets up to $126,420 set aside as spousal allowances.
• Those with too high a monthly income are automatically eligible for a Medicaid spend-down. This allows an applicant to receive KanCare coverage for a six-month period once they’ve accrued medical expenses equal to their excess income.

Spring Hill seniors and those with disabilities can apply for KanCare online or call (800) 792-4884 for assistance or to request an application by mail.

Frail Elderly Waiver Program

KanCare offers a home and community-based services Frail Elderly waiver program to qualified residents aged 65 and older as an alternative to nursing home placement. The waiver doesn’t cover room and board in an assisted living facility, but it does pay for a number of services and supports such as:

• Assistive technology
• Personal care
• Comprehensive support services
• Medication reminders
• Enhanced care services
• Wellness monitoring
• Nurse evaluations
• Financial management services

To qualify for the FE waiver program, applicants must be financially eligible for Medicaid coverage and assessed as requiring a nursing facility level of care but able to safely live in a community setting.

To learn more or begin the assessment and application process for the FE waiver, Spring Hill residents should contact the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services at (785) 296-4983.

State Supplemental Payment

Kansas seniors and disabled adults who live in a Medicaid-approved facility and are eligible for SSI benefits may qualify for a state-funded cash top-up on their monthly check. The Kansas State Supplemental Payment provides $32 for individuals and $64 for married couples, which can be used to pay expenses such as room and board. To receive SSI benefits and the SSP, applicants must meet certain asset limits and have a monthly income equal to or less than the federal benefit rate. Currently, the limits are:

• $771 in income and $2,000 in assets for a single person

• $1,157 in income and $3,000 in assets for married couples

To apply for SSI or SSP benefits, Spring Hill residents can call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Reverse Mortgage

Married seniors aged 62 and older who plan to move to an assisted living facility may consider applying for a reverse mortgage if they own a home where their spouse will continue to live. This type of mortgage provides a homeowner with monthly payments that can be used to cover long-term care costs and other expenses. The amount received is based on current equity, and the mortgage balance only becomes due when the last owner moves out and the home is sold.

To learn more about reverse mortgages, Spring Hill seniors can contact Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500.

The Johnson County Area Agency on Aging provides seniors with a central point of access for local, county and state programs and resources that support their continued independence and quality of life. Spring Hill’s older residents can get information and counseling about health insurance, community-based services and supports, nutritious meals, transportation services and long-term care options. Johnson County Area Agency on Aging
11811 S. Sunset Dr., Ste. 1300, Olathe, KS 66061
(913) 715-8800

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.