Also, the plan severely weakens nursing home standards. But the damage caused by these changes will go far beyond the elderly. Families of elderly nursing home residents could be forced to pay for care if Medicaid won't. May Face Financial Ruin Under Federal Medicaid Bill. They emphasize that Medicare pays for nursing home care only after hospitalization, and even then for a very limited period.
Few seniors can afford private long-term care insurance.
So Medicaid is generally the coverage of last resort. Under Medicaid, older persons in poverty immediately qualify for benefits if they need long-term care. But under the MediGrant plan championed by Republican congressional leaders Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole, coverage is no longer guaranteed for either group of seniors. The long-term care safety net disappears. In some cases, adult children may have to quit their jobs in order to take care of parents at home.