Share This
Print
E-mail
Mississippi Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Medicaid Waiver: 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 Elderly and Disabled Waiver
This Mississippi Medicaid waiver program is designed to help elderly individuals that require nursing home care but would prefer to remain living at home or in their community instead of in a nursing facility. This waiver also has a freedom of choice clause, sometimes referred to as consumer direction, which states that waiver participants are free to select their care service providers from an approved list. Family members seeking to be "approved providers" for the sole purpose of providing care to their relatives is discouraged.
Qualifications for the Elderly and Disabled Waiver
In addition to requiring nursing home level care, individuals 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 and Disabled Waiver
- Adult Day Services
- Case Management
- Expanded Home Health Services
- Home Delivered Meals
- Homemaker Services
- Institutional and In-Home Respite
- Transition Assistance
- Transportation
Availability of the Elderly and Disabled Waiver
This program is available statewide in all Mississippi counties.
Use our Locator Tool to Find Other Options for which You're Eligible
