New Choices Waiver Program
The New Choices Waiver assists seniors who are residing in a nursing facility and wish to move to an assisted living facility or return to their community. The program offers social and financial assistance as well as case management and transition counseling services. Its purpose is to reduce financial stress on the Medicaid system that’s the result of the high cost of nursing care.
To be eligible for this program, seniors must be residing in a nursing home and able to safely live in a facility that provides a lower level of care or within the community. To apply or to obtain more information about the waiver, seniors can contact 1-800-662-9651.
Optional State Supplement
Seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income can apply for Utah’s OSS, which is a cash benefit that’s meant to help seniors who are residing in long-term care facilities or receiving home care to pay for associated costs. The senior’s income determines OSS benefit amounts, and income limits change annually.
Seniors who are applying for OSS benefits must not possess assets valued higher than $2,000 ($3,000 for couples) and must meet the specified income limits. To apply, seniors can contact their local Social Security Administration Office or call 1-800-772-1213.
Elderlife Bridge Loan
In some cases, seniors may be ineligible for Medicaid but still require financial assistance with the cost of assisted living. Elderlife Financial Services provides elder bridge loans to support seniors who find themselves in such a situation. These loans are paid directly to the senior’s assisted living facility and can be repaid in installments.
Seniors must meet minimum credit and income eligibility requirements or have a cosigner who does. A single application can include up to six cosigners, and the applicants can split the installments. Seniors applying for a bridge loan must reside in or be moving into an approved facility.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Insurance providers such as Bankers Life and Genworth Financial offer long-term care insurance policies that can cover up to 100 percent of the cost of care in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The price of these policies depends on a variety of factors, including the type and amount of coverage purchased and the insurance company chosen. The policyholder’s age and health are also factors that affect the cost of premiums.
Although each company has its own guidelines and policies in place, most won’t allow an individual to purchase a long-term care insurance policy after they’ve been diagnosed with a condition that may require long-term care, so it’s important for anyone considering these policies to plan in advance.