Thousands of adult children in the United States are caring for their elderly parents and wonder if they will get reimbursed for the countless hours spent providing care. Although caring for a parent is a rewarding experience, it can be costly. To provide optimal care for their loved ones, caregivers usually have to limit the number of hours they work outside the home or quit their jobs altogether.
As a caregiver, there are options available to help you pay for your role in caring for your mom
or dad, with the most common source of payment being Medicaid. Medicaid is a health and long-term care coverage program for low-income Americans funded by federal and state governments.
Within federal restrictions, each state manages its own program and has the authority to define
its own eligibility standards, services, delivery models, and payment systems. As a result, while each state’s Medicaid program is similar in many aspects, it differs significantly in others.
The following Medicaid options aren’t available in every state, but you can rest assured that at
least one of them is available in your home state.
HCBS Waivers and 1915(c) Waivers
Medical waivers are the most common Medicaid option, allowing states to cover the costs of care and support services for those who do not live in nursing facilities. Personal care, which includes help with activities of daily living, such as eating or getting dressed, and chore services for the elderly or disabled who reside in their own homes or their family members’ homes, are common.
Medical Waivers in most states have an option known as “Consumer Direction,” which allows
the beneficiary (your mom or dad, who are the care recipients) to choose who they wish to receive care services from.
For instance, your mom can choose to receive care from you, and Medicaid will ensure you are
compensated for caring for your mom. You will then get paid an approved hourly rate, which is state-specific and can range between $9.00 to $19.25 hourly.
Unfortunately, waiver programs are enrollment capped, meaning you have to get on a waiting
list.
