Paying for Nursing Facility Care
Paying for care: Medicare covers care for limited periods of time under limited conditions. For Medicare information call 1-800-772-1213. Medicaid covers individuals for ongoing nursing facility care when their income is very low and resources are limited. For information and an application call the Kansas Dept of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) at 913-826-7300. Besides personal resources, Medicare supplemental insurance and long-term care insurance plans may help pay for care. For more information, contact SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans) in Johnson County at 913-715-8856.
Eligibility Requirements for Nursing Home Assistance (Medicaid)
- Must be age 65 or older, or disabled according to social security standards.
- Nursing home placement must be determined medically necessary through a Preadmission CARE Assessment. Contact 913-715-8857 in Johnson Cty.
- Countable assets must be below $2000. A couple may divide assets and income in accordance with the “Spousal Impoverishment Law”.
- Any assets given away in the past 36 months (60 months if a trust was established) may affect current eligibility.
Assets may include savings and checking accounts, stocks, bonds, cds, cash surrender value of life insurance (if face value exceeds $1500), individual retirement accounts, mineral rights, mining claims, life estates, boats, recreational vehicles, etc
If the face value of Life Insurance exceeds $1500, it’s cash surrender value is considered an available resource and must be counted. You can surrender the policy, collect, then spend the cash value. Some insurance companies allow a policy holder to obtain a loan to draw down the amount of the cash value. Another choice is to irrevocably assign ownership of the policy to a funeral home to fund a funeral plan as described in #3 below.
Exempt Resources:
- The home if a) the applicant lives there b) the applicant is temporarily away for medical care, or c) the applicant resides in a nursing facility and intends to return.
- One motor vehicle (car)
- Burial funds within limits …such as amounts designated for a cemetery plot, casket, crypt, mausoleum, urn, vaults, headstones AND an additional $3500 may be exempt if designated as an irrevocable funeral agreement.
Estate Recovery allows SRS and Medicaid to recover medical care costs from the estates of recipients who, prior to their death were 55 years of age or older, resided in a nursing facility or received Medicaid-funded HCBS services; and/or did not have a spouse, children under 21, or disabled dependents.
A person's estate includes the home, savings, or other assets remaining upon death. No lien will be placed upon property while the recipient or spouse is living, but a claim may be filed on the estate upon the death of both the recipient and spouse. All medical expenses paid by SRS may be included in the claim. Questions regarding the Estate Recovery Program can be directed to the Estate Recovery Unit at 785-296-6707.
Medicaid Office in Johnson County (913) 826-7300
Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) 8915 Lenexa Drive, Overland Park, Kansas 66214. Lenexa Drive runs along the East side of I-35 between 87th and 95th streets. Medicaid Information 1-800-766-9012 or 1-785-291-4144
Human Services & Aging
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #1300
Olathe, KS 66061-7056
(913) 715-8800 : voice
(913) 715-8825 : fax
(913) 894-8822 : TTY
E-mail