Placing a relative in a nursing home is a stressful experience by itself. Add to that the complexities of the Medi-Cal system, which pays for nursing home care under certain circumstances, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are some basic concepts that should be helpful.
Concept One: Medicare or Medi-Cal
Medicare and Medi-Cal, although they sound alike, are very different, and it’s important to understand what each does in the nursing home context. Medicare is what comes with Social Security and is not “means-tested” (explained below). It does not pay for nursing home care unless the condition is one from which a person might recover, and s/he is making progress toward recovery. Very few residents of nursing homes are covered by Medicare, and even then only for brief periods while rehabilitating from conditions such as broken hips and strokes.
