When a parent needs nursing home care, families usually assume Medicare will handle it. That assumption is one of the most expensive mistakes people make in Texas.
Medicare and Medicaid are completely different programs. They solve different problems. And only one of them is designed to pay for long-term nursing home care.
That distinction matters more than anything else in this process.
Medicare can help when someone is actively recovering. It pays for hospital stays, doctors, medications, and sometimes short-term rehab in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay. What it does not pay for is long-term nursing home care. It does not cover months or years of custodial care. It stops paying once skilled rehabilitation ends.
Many families hear that Medicare covers “up to 100 days” in a nursing home. That number is misleading. Those days are conditional. Coverage depends on medical progress, and it can end abruptly once rehab goals are met. When that happens, the bill shifts to private pay.
In Texas, private-pay nursing home costs often exceed $6,000-$8,000 per month. That’s when families realize Medicare is no longer part of the solution.
Medicaid is the program that pays for long-term nursing home care in Texas. It is the primary payer once someone needs ongoing residential care and cannot safely return home. If a parent is likely to remain in a facility long term, Medicaid is usually what determines whether care is affordable or financially devastating.
Medicaid, however, is not automatic. It is a means-tested program with income and asset rules. That’s where confusion sets in.
Some families wait until savings are nearly gone before thinking about Medicaid. Others move money around, give assets to children, or sell a home without understanding the consequences. These decisions are usually made under pressure and often make things worse. (We’ve also written about the top 5 Medicaid myths families fall for – read more here).
Texas has specific rules about income, resources, and timing. For example, Texas is an income-cap state for certain long-term care Medicaid categories. There are legal mechanisms that may help when income is over the limit, but they must be done correctly and at the right time. Asset rules are just as important. Not all assets are treated the same, and a healthy spouse at home is often entitled to protections that families don’t realize exist.
By the time Medicare stops paying, options may already be limited. Medicaid planning is time-sensitive. Waiting can lead to uncovered months of care, penalties, or unnecessary loss of assets.
If your family is dealing with this now, the most important thing is to get clarity early. Understand whether your loved one is likely facing short-term rehab or long-term care. Avoid moving money or selling assets until you understand how Texas Medicaid rules apply to your situation. And don’t wait until the bills are piling up to learn how the system actually works.
Medicare helps people recover. Medicaid helps people live when recovery may not be possible. Knowing which program you’re dealing with, and when, makes the difference between a manageable process and a financial crisis.
Ready for a free consultation? We’re here and ready to help. Give us a call at (469) 708-1400, or contact us.
