In Louisiana, health care assistance is available to low-income individuals and those with disabilities through the statewide Medicaid program. While many care services focus on family planning and children, seniors can apply for a long-term care assistance program which provides support to those requiring help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Services include assistance with personal activities such as bathing, dressing, walking, laundry and transportation to medical appointments.
To qualify for long-term care assistance, applicants must:
- Be over age 65 or disabled
- Live (or plan to live) in a nursing facility, state development center or home for individuals with developmental disabilities
- Receive SSI assistance
- Reside in Louisiana
- Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien with permanent residency
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Earn less than $2,200 in monthly income, and have no more than $2,000 in countable resources (individual)
- Earn less than $4,399 in monthly income, and have no more than $3,000 in countable resources (couple)
Those who make more than the income limits (but meet all other Medicaid requirements) may still be eligible for services through the
Medically Needy Spend-Down Program. For more information, call (800) 230-0690.
Also available to seniors with Medicaid is a
Medicare Savings Program that may provide cost reductions, through Medicaid, to Medicare premiums and other health care costs. To be eligible as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), individuals must have a monthly income of no more than $1,061 and countable resources less than $7,700, and married couples must have no more than $1,430 in monthly income and less than $11,600 in countable resources. To apply, seniors should complete this
application and submit it
online or mail it to MSP Processing Office, P.O. Box 91278, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
Community Choices Waiver The
Community Choices Waiver provides services to individuals in assisted living that otherwise may be an out-of-pocket expense. Although it doesn’t help with costs for room and board, it does offer personal assistance services for tasks such as eating, dressing and bathing as well as nursing services, assistive devices, medical supplies, adult day health care services, home delivered meals and housing transition and stabilization services.
Qualifications for the Community Choices Waiver include an income limit of $2,313 for an individual ($2,000 resource limit) and $4,626 for a couple ($3,000 resource limit) when both receive care. If only one member of a married couple requires long-term care, the couple’s resources can total up to $126,420.
Because it’s not an entitlement, there is a wait list for those wishing to obtain these services. For more information about Louisiana Medicaid or the Community Choices Waiver registry, seniors can call (877) 456-1146.