El Paso Senior AdvisorWhat should we do when a parent's savings for care are running low?
Start planning at least six months before the money runs out: join the STAR+PLUS interest list, ask whether the current facility accepts Medicaid, screen for VA pension and other benefits, and talk to an elder law attorney if a spouse is at home.
Waiting until the account is empty leaves few choices. Write down the monthly cost of care, the parent's monthly income and the remaining savings, and work out the month the money runs out; that date drives every other step.
Can a parent stay in El Paso assisted living on Medicaid?
Only if the facility contracts with the parent's STAR+PLUS health plan and the parent is released from the interest list; Medicaid then pays care services and the parent pays room and board from income.
Ask the facility in writing what happens at conversion.
What if a parent needs a nursing facility and has little money?
Texas Medicaid pays nursing facility care for eligible residents, who keep a $75 monthly personal needs allowance and contribute the rest of their income.
All certified El Paso nursing facilities participate in Medicaid in CMS's data, but long-term beds may be limited.
Is PACE an option when money is short?
Yes. For people with Medicaid, PACE through Bienvivir generally has no premium and covers all care, which can keep a parent at home longer.
How do we protect the spouse at home?
Texas Medicaid's spousal rules let the community spouse keep a share of savings and income; get advice before moving assets.
See protecting a spouse.
What other income can help when savings for care run low?
Families often find help in VA pension with Aid and Attendance for veterans and surviving spouses, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help that lower Medicare costs, long-term care or life insurance benefits, and SNAP benefits for a parent still at home.
HICAP at 1-800-252-9240 and the Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging's benefits counselors can screen for programs a family has missed. Lowering Medicare premiums and drug costs frees income for room and board. Selling or renting a home is a bigger decision; talk to an elder law attorney first if Medicaid may follow.
Side by side
| Planning ahead gives | Waiting until money runs out gives | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Months on the interest list | Weeks of uncertainty |
| Choice | A facility that accepts Medicaid | A possible forced move |
| Spouse | Protections set up correctly | Rushed decisions |
| Benefits | VA and other programs found | Missed income |
Sources: Texas Health and Safety Code chapters 142, 242 and 247; 26 Texas Administrative Code chapters 553, 554, 558 and 559; HHSC program handbooks; CareScout, CMS and VA rate tables, as cited above. See our editorial standards.
