What are the pros and cons of Medicaid?

Medicaid is "aid", which is why there are stringent qualifications for eligibility. As you know from the costs he is paying, nursing home care is expensive. Yes social security checks in accordance with Medicaid are required to go towards the nursing home cost. This is no where near what the nursing home actually costs.....as some people receive under $1,000 per month under social security. As far as physician visits, for individuals with Medicare..........doctors bill Medicare for physician visits, not Medicaid. There is no con to being on Medicaid..........because to qualify for Medicaid the individual has no funds to pay for nursing homes. "The loss of freedom over his money and his choice of room (private vs. semi-private)." ".........There is a limited amount of money one can have because it is "aid". So there really is no loss of freedom over his money, because Medicaid requirements would "cash" limitations of under $1,000 for individuals.

The pro is that he gets to stay in the nursing home and you (his family) don't have to pay for it. Being on medicaid does not mean that he cannot have a private room. What they meant was that medicaid won't pay for a private room. If you want him to have one, you can pay for it, out of your own pocket. Losing control of his money is not a consequence of being on medicaid. It is something that is going to happen either way. Even if he does not go on medicaid, he is going to have to spend all his money to pay the nursing home and the other $11,000 bill, so he is not going to keep control of it.

Medicaid is damn expensive. On average, each person receiving Medicaid, costs the taxpayer in Iowa $700 a month. Because of that, it's intended for POOR PEOPLE. Once your grandpa is poor - ie, he's run through all of his money, and has sold all his assets, then he applies for Medicaid, and the working taxpayers will foot the bill. When the family is uncomfortable enough with "free" welfare services, to decide to chip in an dpony up the $6000 a month it costs to remain in private care, then he'll have private care. The pro is, grandpa gets "free" nursing home care. The con is, Medicaid then owns his social security check and house and life insurance and bank accounts, up to the amount his bills are.

There is no alternative to using Medicaid except to keep paying from his savings. It costs over $5000 a month in a nursing home anywhere. He can apply for Medicaid because they will pay for it plus use his Social Security except for a few dollars. There are no private rooms when Medicaid pays. Considering the cost is over $5000 a month, you are getting a bargain. Whatever doctors are in the nursing home see all patients no matter what their financial status is. When you are in a nursing home, you dont go outside to a doctor. You use the doctors who are there. Keep in mind that many nursing homes are not that good that accept Medicaid. Not all do.