Tulsa Senior AdvisorWhat should we do when savings for care are running low?
Start about a year before the money runs out: ask the facility whether it accepts ADvantage or SoonerCare residents, apply for ADvantage early because of the waiting list, check VA Aid and Attendance, and see an elder law attorney about the 60-month look-back.
The single worst outcome is discovering in the last month that the building cannot keep a resident on public benefits.
Can my parent stay in assisted living on ADvantage?
Only if the center participates in ADvantage and has a slot, and only if your parent's income covers room and board, because ADvantage pays the care services but never rent and meals.
If the numbers do not work, a nursing home that accepts SoonerCare may be the place where public coverage pays for everything except the $50 monthly allowance the resident keeps.
Are there other sources of help?
Possibly: VA pension with Aid and Attendance for veterans and surviving spouses, life insurance with long-term care riders or cash value, and family contributions planned openly among siblings.
The Medicare Assistance Program (1-800-763-2828) can also check whether your parent qualifies for help with Medicare premiums and drug costs, which frees up income.
What happens if a resident cannot pay the assisted living bill?
The center can begin a discharge under the criteria in the service contract, so raise the issue with the administrator early, ask about ADvantage, and ask the ombudsman (1-800-211-2116) for help if a discharge notice arrives.
Some centers set aside a limited number of ADvantage slots or allow a resident who has paid privately for a set period to transition. Get any such promise in writing.
How do we start the SoonerCare application?
Apply through your county Oklahoma Human Services office or online, have a representative help if needed, and gather five years of financial statements, income records, insurance policies and property records before you start.
Coverage can reach back up to three months before the application month for medical bills, which is another reason not to wait.
Can family members pay part of the cost?
Yes; family contributions toward room and board are common, especially when ADvantage covers the services in assisted living, but put the arrangement in writing so everyone understands who pays what.
Payments made directly to the facility are simpler to document than gifts to a parent.
At a glance
| Do | Don't | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Start a year ahead | Wait for the last month |
| Assets | Get advice before transfers | Give money away to qualify |
| Facility | Ask about ADvantage and SoonerCare before moving in | Assume every building accepts them |
Sources include the Oklahoma Administrative Code (chapters 310:663, 310:680, 310:673, 310:675 and 310:605), OSDH, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Human Services, the Oklahoma Attorney General, CareScout, CMS and the VA, as cited above; see our editorial standards.
