A month after my father fell, brother has him at his house in Ohio. We have spent a ton on travel related expenses as he lived in Florida, and was hospitalized 10 days then another 20 in rehab. Plus the cost of depends and wound supplies, a pocket talker. How can he reimburse us without causing Medicaid ineligibility if he needs care in nursing home down the road?
When Medicaid goes thru the 5 years of statements, they are looking for any large amounts being withdrawn and will ask what they were for. They never questioned the $100 or so check I wrote occasionally to myself for her supplies.
Now your travel expenses? That may be questioned. I really don't think your entitled to reimbursement. That is a choice on your part.
If your dad pays for the trips they probably will see that as gifting.
Use dads funds to pay for the attorney.
You don’t mention dementia so dad can still legally assign a DPOA if he hasn’t already done so. Discuss a care contract for brother or whoever will provide care. The attorney can advise you regarding the expenditures you have made.
As far as travel to visit or help him, that's on you. The average person does not charge their parent to visit.
If dad has money to question reimbursement, why didn't you use his money to pay for the medical supplies? Nursing home, down the road, will look at money he pays/gives to people for the past 5 years.
Keep receipts and use his checks or debit/credit card to pay for things he needs to avoid penalty days that Medicaid will not pay for. In Texas, it's a little over 300 per day considered as cost of NH. They total up what dad gave away and divide by that number to determine how many days of penalty. So if you take money from him now, you'll end up paying penalty days out of your pocket to keep him in the NH should his health require that kind of care.
Each state administers it’s Medicaid program uniquely but with oversite by the federal government via CMS (Centers for MediCARE and MedicAID). It’s not a nationwide eligibility like Medicare is. Ohio may not allow certain things that a FL Medicaid caseworker doesn’t even bother with. When your looking at elder law atty’s to represent your dad, please pls let them know that there will likely be paperwork out of his old State. Should he have any real FL assets, like home, land, autos, that will make a huge difference as to his being eligible for LTC Medicaid in Ohio.
As far as reimbursement for your travel, personally I do not see any reimbursements by dad to you or your bro for the costs being easily allowed. That was your choice to do and done out of a sense of familial responsibility. Your not under a court order to accompany him as you might be if you were a guardian or he was your ward. Dad could have paid for his own airline tickets, his Depends, clothing, a medical transport service, a CNA or wound care specialist to accompany him.
The Depends & wound care items, those you likely can be reimbursed for as long as you have an match up receipt. For the wound care stuff, find the discharge orders as they should indicate what type of wound care he needs and it’s frequency so you can show it was medically necessary and not just done for aesthetics, should you be asked. My Hubs got lymph infection post melanoma surgery so yes I know how pricey aerosol saline, Tegaderm patches etc are. The one positive is usually wound care is time limited as they do heal and your DIY’ing it so not driving to & spending hr + at a care center every day or so.
Medicaid expects dad to have living & health care costs. He should be paying for these things out of this monthly income / his assets. It’s important to do as he needs to get his assets down to get him impoverished to be “at need” financially for LTC Medicaid. Whomever is his old DPOA can help him to go online and buy things for his direct needs and gets paid by Dads CC or his debit card. His new atty needs to be one that is familiar with Medicaid compliance in his state. Often estate oriented elder law atty are not, so clearly ask.