Are you or your loved one considering joining an assisted living community in Texas? An assisted living community has advantages and engaging activities for everyone. Those are just a few of the many excellent advantages they may provide, like living a low-maintenance lifestyle, eating freshly cooked healthy meals, and participating in a lovely community.
However, enrolling in the assisted living community raises an important question. How exactly do you pay for it? Have no fear; we have got you covered. Read on more to learn about three methods to pay for the cost of assisted living in Texas.
Medicaid Programs and Waivers
Medicaid is health insurance for residents and is typically given to low-income people. Medicaid care was initially provided in nursing homes as institutional care and limited personal care. Texas made significant changes to its Medicaid programs for the elderly in 2015. State-wide accessibility to the STAR+PLUS Waiver, which was implemented county by county over the past few years, is now possible with Medicaid.
This program provides a variety of services for residents to enable them to continue living in their homes, in adult foster care homes, or assisted living communities, such as personal care, adult day care, food delivery, and many more. This program offers access to both medical and non-medical care, which is delivered through managed care groups.
Since Medicaid is targeted at low-income residents, to be eligible for long-term care Medicaid in Texas, retired generations must show a functional need and have limited financial resources and income. But given how useful it is, it would be wise to apply for it and find out whether you or your loved ones are accepted for this program.
Even though there is a set limit to indicate who is eligible for Medicaid, Fret not as individuals with income and assets beyond these thresholds can still be able to get Medicaid in Texas. Additional monthly income can be distributed to qualifying income trusts by working with a Medicaid planning professional. So be sure to consult a Medicaid professional before your application.
State Assistance Programs
What do you do If your loved ones are not Medicaid qualified? Do not worry just yet as the State of Texas provides one program which offers support to residents who do not qualify for Medicaid.
This is known as the Community Care for Aged/Disabled (CCAD) program, which offers non-medical personal care services and assistance to those who are eligible for nursing homes but choose to live at home.
Foster homes and communities for assisted living may also offer services. To know more about CCAD eligibility and benefits, refer to CCAD.
Adult Day Care
The average daily cost of adult day care in Texas is still among the lowest in the country. The daily cost, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2020, the average daily cost in 2021 will be just $32.00, a number that has mostly been steady over the last few years.
The most expensive cities in Texas for adult day care are Amarillo, Dallas, Houston, and Midland. Even then, costs range from $53 to $73 only per day. So even at the high end, one can find care that is far less expensive than the national average for adult day care, which is $74.00 per day. Therefore, you can rest assured knowing that Texas is more pocket-friendly compared to other states.
