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Minnesota Medicaid Elderly Waiver Program: Qualifications and Services
What are Medicaid Waivers?
Medicaid pays for long term care services in nursing homes. For nursing home qualified persons that choose to live at home or in a residential community, Medicaid will pay for those services if they can be obtained at a lower cost. These are called Home and Community Based Services, Waiver Funded Services, Medicaid Waivers or simply Waivers.
Overview of the Minnesota Elderly Waiver
Minnesota Medicaid’s Elderly Waiver pays for home and community-based services for people aged 65 years or older who require the level of medical care provided in a nursing home but choose to reside in the community.
Under the Elderly Waiver, participants have the option letting the state manage their care or they can self-direct their care through Consumer Directed Community Supports. This option is based on the Medicaid Cash and Counseling model in which participants are given the flexibility to hire their own personal care providers including family members. For example, the adult children of aging parents can be paid as caregivers. A fiscal intermediary is used to manage payroll services. Minnesota also offers consumer direction for personal care through its Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Program.
Under the Elderly Waiver, participants have the option letting the state manage their care or they can self-direct their care through Consumer Directed Community Supports. This option is based on the Medicaid Cash and Counseling model in which participants are given the flexibility to hire their own personal care providers including family members. For example, the adult children of aging parents can be paid as caregivers. A fiscal intermediary is used to manage payroll services. Minnesota also offers consumer direction for personal care through its Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Program.
Qualifications for the Minnesota Elderly Waiver
In addition to being 65 or older and requiring nursing home level of care, Minnesota residents must be financially qualified to receive Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. The rules change in each state but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and one's countable assets must be valued at less $1,000 - $8,000. IMPORTANT* Even though, one's income or assets may exceed these limits, most individuals can still qualify for Medicaid.
Many families find themselves in an awkward position where their loved one has enough income and assets that they do not qualify for Medicaid but not enough so that they can afford to pay for their care. Fortunately, there are many exceptions to what is considered income and countable assets. For example, one's car and home can be considered exempt from their countable assets. Income in excess of the limit can be allocated to a pooled income trust thereby enabling the individual to meet the Medicaid limit and qualify for assistance.
Creating a funeral trust is another simple and common technique used to help qualify for Medicaid. Given the expense of funerals and the fact that everyone will eventually require one, it makes sense to allocate money in advance to cover the funeral and associated expenses. A funeral trust is considered an exempt asset from Medicaid, therefore by creating one, a family can prepare for an inevitable need without having to plan the details and lower their countable assets to help qualify for Medicaid. Learn more about establishing a funeral trust.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. The rules change in each state but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and one's countable assets must be valued at less $1,000 - $8,000. IMPORTANT* Even though, one's income or assets may exceed these limits, most individuals can still qualify for Medicaid.
Many families find themselves in an awkward position where their loved one has enough income and assets that they do not qualify for Medicaid but not enough so that they can afford to pay for their care. Fortunately, there are many exceptions to what is considered income and countable assets. For example, one's car and home can be considered exempt from their countable assets. Income in excess of the limit can be allocated to a pooled income trust thereby enabling the individual to meet the Medicaid limit and qualify for assistance.
Creating a funeral trust is another simple and common technique used to help qualify for Medicaid. Given the expense of funerals and the fact that everyone will eventually require one, it makes sense to allocate money in advance to cover the funeral and associated expenses. A funeral trust is considered an exempt asset from Medicaid, therefore by creating one, a family can prepare for an inevitable need without having to plan the details and lower their countable assets to help qualify for Medicaid. Learn more about establishing a funeral trust.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Services Provided under the Elderly Waiver
- Adult Day Care
- Assisted Living
- Home Delivered Meals
- Home Health Aide
- Home Modifications
- Homemaker
- Personal Care Assistant
- Skilled Nursing Visitation
Availability of the Elderly Waiver
While this program is available statewide across Minnesota, there may be participation caps and therefore waiting lists may exist.
Use our Locator Tool to Find Other Options for which You're Eligible
