Does Kentucky Medicaid pay for assisted living?
No. Kentucky has no Medicaid waiver that pays for assisted living room, board or services; Medicaid pays for nursing facility care for eligible residents and, through the HCB waiver and PACE, for services at home.
State Supplementation, a separate state program, helps SSI-level residents in personal care homes and family care homes.
What is the Medicaid asset limit in Kentucky for a nursing home?
$2,000 in countable resources for one person and $4,000 for a two-person household, under 907 KAR 20:025, with separate protections for a spouse who remains at home under 907 KAR 20:035.
Some assets, such as a home in certain circumstances and limited personal property, are excluded.
How much income does a Kentucky nursing home resident on Medicaid keep?
A $60 monthly personal needs allowance, raised from $40 on July 1, 2024 by House Bill 6; most other income goes to the facility as patient liability.
Allowances for a community spouse are deducted first where they apply.
Is there a waiting list for Kentucky's HCB waiver?
Yes. The Department for Medicaid Services says there is currently a waiting list for HCB services, ordered by the date a completed application is received.
Apply early; KIPDA's ADRC at (502) 266-5571 can help.
How do I apply for Medicaid long-term care in Louisville?
Apply through kynect or the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services at (855) 306-8959, or in person at a DCBS office; waiver applications then go through kynect or an Aging and Disability Resource Center such as KIPDA's.
Have income, bank and asset records and the applicant's Social Security number ready.
Did Kentucky expand Medicaid?
Yes, on January 1, 2014, under the Affordable Care Act; expansion covers adults under 65 on income alone, while long-term-care Medicaid for people 65 and older uses the separate aged, blind and disabled rules with a resource test.
Turning 65 moves a person out of the expansion group.
What is PACE and is it available in Louisville?
PACE is an all-inclusive Medicare and Medicaid program for people 55 and older who need nursing-facility level of care; DMS lists two PACE organizations serving Jefferson County and one serving Bullitt County.
No PACE organization currently serves Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Henry or Trimble counties.
Does Kentucky Medicaid look back at gifts before paying for a nursing home?
Yes. Transfers for less than fair market value during the federal look-back period before the application can create a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for nursing facility care.
Talk to an elder law attorney before moving money.
