If a patient can't pay privately, Colorado's Medicaid program could afford a nursing home or assisted living. In addition to paying for nursing home care, Colorado Medicaid offers the following programs that help older people live at home or in the community. The Medicaid long-term care program covers several services, such as home or assisted living care, the Comprehensive Care Program for the Elderly (PACE), and stays in a nursing home or hospital for more than 30 days. Like the CDASS program, the IHSS program gives eligible participants the option to direct and manage the services and supports they need for long-term health care, and to provide attendees with the services and supports they need to live at home.
These rules apply to all three types of Medicaid, with one important exception: ABD Medicaid applicants can ignore the mortgage guarantee limit. Through nutrition programs, group meals, home meals, and food pantries, these programs help older Colorado people afford the nutritious food they need. PACE program participants must need a level of care in a nursing facility, but must live in the community. The following table provides a quick reference for older people to determine if they might be immediately eligible for a Medicaid long-term care program in Colorado. However, when only one of the spouses of a married couple applies for Medicaid, the income of the non-applying spouse is not counted, so the non-applying spouse has sufficient funds to live on.
These long-term care benefits may include personal home care, adult day care, meal delivery, home modifications, and personal emergency response systems (PERS). With professional assistance, they were able to access these vital services without exhausting their resources. Eligible residents can also receive assistance through health insurance and other programs to access free or discounted medical services. The agency provides advice on topics such as financial assistance programs, home care, and long-term care planning.
Long-term care (LTC) services in Colorado are expensive, and include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care. Colorado Medicaid for the Elderly, Blind and Disabled (ABD) provides health care coverage and long-term care benefits to financially constrained Colorado residents who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and who live in the community. We recommend using InnovAge if the centers are conveniently located, since many of the assisted living facilities that don't accept Medicaid accept payments through InnovAge. Colorado Medicaid applicants and beneficiaries may also want to consider protecting their home (and other assets) from asset recovery.
Money Follows the Person (MFP): This federal program helps institutionalized people who qualify for Medicaid to return to their homes or to the community.
