Mom currently has BC/BS and Medicare. Once funds are exhausted at assisted living, she will transition to Medicaid waiver for housing funds. Does this mean she will lose her current health plans? She has great insurance coverage and concerned about the quality of healthcare coverage under Medicaid.
I think (confirm this, though) that Medicare remains primary and Medicaid become the secondary insurance.
Is mom on Original Medicare with a supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan? It makes a difference.
In Kansas, my mom is able to keep her original Medicare supplement (medigap), which is better in her case (your case might be different) than switching to an advantage plan or dropping all together.
Her med bills go Medicare > Med supplement > Medicaid. For example she was in a rehab hospital recently that doesn’t take Medicaid, but we couldn’t find an open bed that did, so she got very lucky she had the supplemental ins. Even so, each time I open a $40,000 dollar “bill” that will get paid by the ins I think my heart stops and goes to another universe. Yikes!
For Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), the secondary insurance doesn’t impact the care hours that HCBS provides. The secondary ins premium is disregarded from her Social Security, which does impact how much is available for the room & board component. Some places are fine, some will argue, just depends.
If Mombis straight Medicare and Moms State allows her supplemtal to be dropped, then I would drop it once Medicaid comes into the picture. Medicaid pays all balances that Medicare doesn't. In my State prescriptions, dental and vision ate included. No need to pay the cost of bs/bc. Actually, my nephew has Medicaid as a supplemental and Medicaid pays the premium for NJ bc/bs.
Mom will not be able to pay for a supplement and you shouldn't. She will be OK with Medicare/Medicaid. Be aware though, you never receive statements from Medicaid like u do with Medicare because Mom will owe nothing.