Medicaid is the government health plan that provides mandatory benefits, such as hospital services, doctor visits and long-term care, to low-income Americans and eligible immigrants. In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is known as Medical Assistance, and long-term care coverage with access to community waivers is available to seniors who meet Medicaid’s criteria.
Qualifying for Medical Assistance
Individuals aged 65 and older can earn up to $2,313 per month and own a maximum of $8,000 in countable assets. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants, have a valid Social Security number and be permanent residents of Pennsylvania.
Some assets are exempt, such as a house, condominium or mobile home that’s the principal residence of the applicant and/or their spouse. Also exempt is one vehicle, a prepaid burial contract, personal effects and household furnishings.
Medicaid Aging Waiver
Seniors aged 60 and older who qualify for Medicaid and need the level of care normally provided in a nursing home may be eligible for the Aging Waiver, a home and community-based waiver program.
The AW lets seniors avoid nursing home placement by funding enhanced community-based services in an assisted living setting. These services are assigned on a case-by-case basis to address the needs identified in the preadmission assessment, and may include:
- Help with activities of daily living
- Nursing services
- Adult day health programming
- Physical, speech and language therapies
- Minor home modifications to improve safety
- Respite care
- Case management
- Medical supplies and durable medical equipment
- A medical alert system
For more information and to request an AW assessment, contact the
Monroe County Department of Aging at (570) 420-3735.