Florida Long Term Care Medicaid Programs
1. Institutional Care Program (ICP)
2. Home & Community Based Services (HCBS)
The application for Florida Institutional Care Medicaid Program (ICP) is filed when a person is in a “Skilled Nursing Facility or Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center”. This is a facility that provides rehabilitation services after hospitalization and long-term care for those who can no longer live in their home or in a community setting.
The application for Florida Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Program is filed when a person is living in the community. That can mean they live in their own home, they may live in someone else’s home, or perhaps they live in an Assisted Living Facility (ALF).
There are 3 eligibility requirements for either of these Medicaid programs: 1. Income; 2. Asset; and 3. Level of care Needed. When a person is over income or over asset, an attorney can assist them with income and/or asset protection so they can meet the Medicaid eligibility requirements and receive the services of
these programs.
Skilled nursing/long-term care facility costs range from $9,000.00 to $15,000.00 per month. Generally, the person receiving Medicaid ICP benefits will pay their monthly income to the long-term care facility and Medicaid ICP will pay the balance of the facility invoice every month as long as the person is asset eligible and requires the level of care.
Assisted living facility costs range from $3500.00 to $7000.00 per month. Generally, the person receiving Medicaid HCBS benefits pays for the room and board at the facility from their income and the Medicaid HCBS program pays the level of care amount which is between $1300.00-$1800.00 per month in addition to covering a myriad of other medical expenses.
For individuals who wish to remain in their homes, Medicaid HCBS pays for the Suncoast Pace Program which provides home services and day programs for individuals who are income, asset and level of care eligible. The same eligibility criteria applies, and the goal of the Suncoast Pace program is to help the applicant remain in their home for as long as possible.
Please do not rely on legal advice regarding these income and asset matters from friends or other well meaning individuals. The legal rules are complex and ever-changing. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that only attorneys are permitted to give legal advice on Medicaid planning. So many people have been misguided and suffered great harm because of non-attorneys who give legal advice on Medicaid income and asset issues. Please do not rely on the legal advice given to you by non-attorneys.
Diana Mangsen focuses her practice as an elder law attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.
For more information, visit our website at
https://www.mangsenlaw.com/
or call (727) 888-6282.