Does Hospice Take Your Social Security Check

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Last Updated on August 6, 2021 by Frank Davis

Those who are suffering from a terminal illness can obtain services provided by hospice, including support for their physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. In general, the main emphasis should be placed on treating pain and symptoms. Medication and therapy is normally used in order to accomplish this, as it is performed by a team of professionals which will include doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, home health aides, and volunteers. A substantial amount of research has shown that hospice care actually has a positive effect on the quality of life of patients compared with those without hospice care.

This hospice care option has become a part of the American culture, as it provides end of life care for people at home. Hospice care is usually covered by government insurance programs such as Medicare, Medical, or private insurance companies. It must be noted that many of these insurances differ in the fact that they may have different rules and regulations pertaining to qualifications and collections. There is a lot of value in knowing the rules, so that you can know which is the best path for you to take.

It is the subject of this article that we will investigate whether hospice can take a social security check from you and under what circumstances it may do so.

Does Hospice Take Your Social Security Check

In the United States, Medicare is a government health insurance program for people aged 65 and older as well as for people with disabilities. Hospice care is specifically part of Medicare Part A, and it covers the costs of hospice care. As soon as your hospice care starts, you will be covered under Medicare A, which will cover all of your treatment expenses related to your terminal illness as well as related medical conditions. So does hospice take your social security check under Medicare? It will surprise you to learn that the answer is no. It is not the intention of Medicare to pursue your social security benefits in order to pay for your hospice care.  

Millions of Americans have health coverage under Medicaid, including adults, children and pregnant women who meet the eligibility requirements, as well as elderly adults who have disabilities. As with Medicare, Medicaid covers essentials such as nursing, medical social services, physician services, counseling for the terminally ill person and their family, short-term inpatient care, medical appliances and supplies, homemakers and home health aides, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.   

When you elected only to get hospice care through Medicaid, there will be no deduction from the social security check that you receive. This is only if you elect hospice care through Medicaid, because there is a program within Medicaid that can deduct your Social Security or your pension if you do decide to elect it. As the name suggests, this program is for those in need of nursing home or long-term care, sometimes referred to as Institutional Medicaid.

Nursing Home or Skilled Nursing Facility Covered Under Medicaid

It is estimated that Medicaid represents approximately 45 percent of the total amount spent on state-funded long-term care institutions. Medicaid is the largest source of public funding for long-term care institutions. Another important source of funding for long-term care facilities comes from the patients themselves.

You should be aware that institutional Medicaid has a probability of lowering your social security benefits. In the event Medicaid is paying more than half of your bills in a nursing home, a significant amount will be deducted from your social security. It should be noted that the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount is limited to $30 per month for individuals residing in nursing homes, hospitals, or similar facilities for which Medicaid covers more than half of the costs of care.

The possibility exists of having your social security check deducted if you receive institutional care under Medicaid. In some cases, it may be the best option to turn to a skilled nursing facility the moment we are no longer able to find a caregiver or get the proper care at home. In any case, there is a legal rule in place that may allow you to obtain full benefits for a certain period of time.

Under a special rule applicable to the SSI program, beneficiaries are permitted to receive their entire benefit if they are undergoing treatment in a nursing home or facility for less than 90 days. The steps that you need to follow to ensure that you receive your full benefits seem fairly straightforward. Please click here to learn more about the rule.

Conclusion

Does hospice care take your social security check? The hospice services, whether you are covered under Medicare or Medicaid, will not deduct or take anything from your social security check. Nevertheless, there are chances that your check will be deducted if, on the other hand, you receive institutional Medicaid.

Though Institutional Medicaid falls upon another category, I decided to include this in my post because, in some cases, hospice care may be provided on a Medicaid funded nursing home. I think it is best to know your options before making a decision, as some of us may consider this to be the best course of action.

If you would like to know more about social security and hospice services, please contact Hospice Valley at (747) 755-5181.