What Kind of Senior Living Does Medicaid Cover

If you are looking into a senior living community for yourself or for a loved one, it can be a bit overwhelming. It can be especially formidable when looking at prices. There is good news: Medicaid and senior living can go hand in hand. This means that there are certain types of senior care that are covered by Medicaid, which can be a huge financial relief to many.

If you are specifically looking at Medicaid and senior living options here in Arizona, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona’s Medicaid agency. Within this program, there is the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) that serves seniors and disabled residents, assisting them with their long-term care needs. You must be 65 years old or older to qualify for this health insurance and either have a disability or need nursing-home-level care.

There also are some financial eligibility requirements you must meet in order to qualify for ALTCS. As of February 2023, a single Arizona applicant cannot exceed a gross monthly income limit of over $1,215. For an applicant and his or her spouse, that gross monthly income limit cannot exceed $1,644. For more information on eligibility and who can apply, please visit the AHCCCS website.

It’s important to know what kinds of senior living Medicaid will cover. AHCCCS does contract with several programs to help Arizona seniors get the long term care services they need. Here is a closer look at Medicaid and senior living and what you can leverage those benefits for:

Assisted Living

An assisted living community provides residents with the services and support they need to continue to live their lives in a safe and healthy manner. Medicaid can help pay for assisted living communities, either privately or state run. 

Many communities accept Medicaid and ALTCS but there are some that don’t, so it’s important when looking for a place that you find one that is Medicaid certified. Here at BridgeWater Assisted Living, we are certified. This means that we are eligible to receive payment for long-term care benefits, such as moving into one of our communities.

Nursing Facility or Memory Care

If you are in need of a higher level of care such as memory care or skilled nursing facility, Medicaid can help cover the costs of that as well. A skilled nursing facility or memory care is meant for seniors who do not need to be in a hospital but cannot be cared for in their homes, and they tend to have a neighborhood feel to them. These communities have nursing aides and/or skilled nurses that are on site 24 hours a day to care for their residents, and staff is highly encouraged to develop relationships with the residents.

There are a lot of senior living communities in Arizona that offer multiple levels of care, like BridgeWater. We have assisted living and memory care communities within our BridgeWater umbrella. If you are looking for a senior living community that accepts Medicaid, it’s a good idea to see if the community does offer multiple levels of care. 

If your medical needs change and one day, you need a different level of care, you will be able to remain in the same community. Not only will you not need to move from outside of the senior living community that you have already gotten to know, but you will not need to go through trying to figure out if Medicaid will approve your living situation once again.

Residential Care Homes

Residential care homes are more commonly known as group homes. This option is for residents who may need a higher level of care than what assisted living communities offer, but they still want to live somewhere that has a neighborhood feel. 

Most residential care homes have around 5 to 10 residents living in each home, making the level of care extremely personalized to each resident. The staff provide round-the-clock care in these homes, as caregivers tend to live in the same home as the residents. Medicaid will cover some of these certified homes, but you’ll have to verify before moving in.

In-Home Care

If you do not want to move out of your home but do need extra assistance, Medicaid can help with the costs of that. They will pay for up to 40 hours each week, with the exact hours of in-home care varying based on the medical needs of the person. These home health services can include nursing services, therapy, and home health aids. It can also include home delivered meals based on the situation.

We understand that the Medicaid process can be confusing or seem like a lot, which is why we have Community Benefit Advocates on staff here at BridgeWater Assisted Living. Not only can they answer any questions you may have, but they can also help you get your Medicaid application started. If you are interested in moving into our senior living community and would like to take advantage of this benefit, please reach out via our contact page. We are happy to help you in any way we can!

Once you are approved for Medicaid, AHCCCS will assign you a case manager that can help coordinate your care. If you choose BridgeWater as your senior living community, our Community Benefit Advocates team here can coordinate with this case manager, and you, as well, to make things as smooth as possible.

If you are concerned about paying for senior living, Medicaid could be an option for you. If you qualify, it is definitely a benefit you should be taking advantage of. While exploring your different options for senior living communities, make sure to verify if they accept Medicaid as payment. Their answer can play a big part in helping you make your final decision on which senior living community you should move to!