The most common questions people have about assisted living in Indiana are how much it costs, how to pay for it, and whether Medicaid covers it. Senior living costs vary based on the local cost of living, community amenities, and services. In Indiana, Medicaid and the Indiana PathWays for Aging Medicaid Waiver Program can help offset some assisted living costs.
However, Medicaid may not be accepted at all assisted living communities in Indiana and may only cover specific services. Keep reading for more information on Medicaid, what it covers, and how to pay for assisted living.
Medicaid is a state-funded public insurance program that covers medical care and some long-term care services. It can often get confused with Medicare, which provides health insurance for people 65 years of age or older.
In Indiana, Medicaid covers all necessary senior living care services. The care level and services a person receives are determined by an Indiana PathWays for Aging MEDICAID Program assessment.
Care services are included in assisted living services supported by PathWays for Aging. However, the monthly rate doesn’t include assisted living room and board, which are the resident’s responsibility.
The state-funded PathWays for Aging Medicaid Waiver Program provides essential care services for qualified individuals. It allows Indiana’s Medicaid program to provide the necessary support services for a person to live as independently as possible in their home or other community setting. Some federal rules that usually apply to Medicaid services are set aside to provide more flexible care options.
To be eligible for PathWays for Aging, individuals must qualify based on the following criteria:
In addition to the above, the following income requirements apply for the PathWays for Aging Medicaid Waiver program:
Family size for this program is based on your tax household. To qualify for the program, you must not have more than $2,000 (if single) or $3,000 (if married) in assets. Assets can include stocks, property other than your house, bank accounts, and cash.
Check full eligibility requirements for the PathWays for Aging Medicaid Waiver program here.
For those who need some extra help, assisted living communities offer a homelike environment while also providing necessary support. Residents have easy access to meals, housekeeping, social events, and 24/7 support from care staff.
Communities offer many different care options to provide the right balance of support and independence to residents, whether that’s minimal support to make sure daily habits are maintained or personalized care. No matter what the care level is, services are tailored to each person to make sure their unique needs are met.
Assisted living is ideal for those who need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). ADLs include personal care activities, such as eating, personal hygiene, grooming, and toileting. IADLs cover complex activities, such as doing laundry, housekeeping, preparing meals, and managing finances and medications.
There are plenty of ways to help offset the cost of assisted living. It’s important to explore all options that may be available to you to cover room and board and other services that Medicaid may not cover in Indiana. These resources include:
Understanding Medicaid, what it covers, and how to pay for senior living can be hard. But you don’t have to do this alone—nor should you. Assisted living communities, such as Cedarhurst®, have many years of experience helping families navigate senior living, from easy questions about dining hours to complex topics, such as how to pay for senior living. We recommend connecting with the local experts at one of our communities to discuss paying for senior living and ask any questions you may have.
Finding out what you can use to pay for senior living in Indiana can be confusing, but we’re here to help. Cedarhurst has many years of experience helping families with the senior living process. Cedarhurst accepts the Indiana PathWays for Aging Medicaid Waiver Program at select communities in Indiana. To learn more about assisted living costs, explore our senior living pricing resources.
Please be advised that the information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only. Cedarhurst makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information contained on this page. For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding PathWays for Aging and related resources, we strongly recommend visiting Indiana's official PathWays for Aging Medicaid Waiver Program website.