MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC) Program

Last updated: September 18, 2024

 

Overview of MO’s Supplemental Nursing Care Program

Missouri’s Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC) Program provides monthly cash assistance to seniors and adults with disabilities who are living in licensed assisted living facilities (ALFs), residential care facilities I (RCF), and residential care facilities II. Intended to help cover the cost of living in these facilities, the amount of financial assistance provided varies based on the setting in which one lives. Persons residing in assisted living facilities may receive nearly double the cash assistance of those residing in residential care facilities. Program participants are also provided a small monthly Personal Needs Allowance and their medical needs are covered by Missouri Medicaid.

SNC is an entitlement program; the state does not limit the number of persons who can receive program assistance. However, there may be a facility-based waitlist if no beds are available at a specific residential care facility or assisted living facility.

The Missouri Supplemental Nursing Care Program is a Missouri Medicaid program. Medicaid in Missouri is Called MO HealthNet. The Medicaid program for the elderly and disabled is called MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD).

  While the Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC) Program provides up to $390 / month for nursing home care in a non-Medicaid certified nursing home, Medicaid-funded nursing home care is generally the better option. This is because Medicaid-funded nursing home care covers 100% of the cost for persons who qualify, while SNC only covers a small portion of the cost. For this reason, this page does not go into detail about SNC in nursing home facilities.

 

Benefits of the Supplemental Nursing Care Program

In 2024, the SNC Program provides financial assistance up to $156 / month for persons residing in a residential care facility I and up to $292 / month for those in a residential care facility II or an assisted living facility. Furthermore, a participant receives a $50 / month Personal Needs Allowance. Payments are made to the program participant, not the facility in which they reside. Program participants are also eligible for medical care, such as hospitalization, lab work, x-rays, and physician appointments, through Medicaid / MO HealthNet.

 

Eligibility Requirements for the Supplemental Nursing Care Program

SNC is for Missouri residents who are 21+ years old and live in a licensed residential care facility or assisted living facility. Additional eligibility criteria follows:

Financial Criteria: Income, Assets & Home Ownership

Income
There is no set income limit. The only requirement is that an applicant’s monthly income be less than the monthly cost of the assisted living facility or residential care facility in which they reside. If the applicant has a non-applicant spouse, only the applicant’s income is considered. In other words, the non-applicant spouse’s income is disregarded.

 While many home and community based services Medicaid programs allow a non-applicant spouse to retain a larger portion of a couple’s income and assets, the Missouri Supplemental Nursing Care Program does not. In contrast, Missouri’s Aged and Disabled Waiver and Nursing Home Medicaid do allow a non-applicant spouse a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance and a Community Spouse Resource Allowance.

Assets
In 2024, the asset limit is $5,909.25 for a single applicant. For married couples, regardless if one or both spouses are applicants, the asset limit is $11,818.45.

Some assets are not counted towards Medicaid’s asset limit. These generally include an applicant’s primary home, household furnishings and appliances, personal effects, and a vehicle.

While there is a 60-month Look-Back Rule in which Medicaid checks past asset transfers of those applying for Nursing Home Medicaid or home and community based services via a Medicaid Waiver, it is not relevant for the Supplemental Nursing Care Program.

 To determine if you might have assets over Medicaid’s countable limit, and if so, receive an estimate of the amount, use our Spend Down Calculator

Home Ownership
The home is often the highest valued asset a Medicaid applicant owns, and many persons worry that MO Medicaid will take it. For eligibility purposes, Medicaid considers the home exempt (non-countable) in the following circumstances.

– The applicant lives in the home or has “Intent” to Return, and in 2024, their home equity interest is no greater than $713,000. Home equity is the current value of the home minus any outstanding mortgage. Equity interest is the portion of the home’s equity value that is owned by the applicant.
– The applicant has a spouse who lives in the home.
– The applicant has a minor child (under 21 years old) who lives in the home.
– The applicant has an adult child (aged 21+) who is blind or disabled (permanently and totally) who lives in the home.

Learn more about the potential of Medicaid taking the home.

 

Medical Criteria: Functional Need

Many long-term care Medicaid programs require a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC), but applicants residing in assisted living facilities and residential care facilities need only require assistance with their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). ADLs include activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility. An Initial Assessment – Social and Medical form is used to make this assessment. Relevant to many persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, cognitive and behavioral issues, such as lack of orientation and wandering, are also considered. A diagnosis of dementia in and of itself does not mean one will meet the functional need.

 Learn more about long-term care Medicaid in Missouri.

 

Qualifying When Over the Limits

Having income and / or assets over MO HealthNet’s / Medicaid’s limit(s) does not mean an applicant cannot still qualify for Medicaid. There are a variety of planning strategies that can be used to help persons who would otherwise be ineligible to become eligible. Some of these strategies are fairly easy to implement, and others, exceedingly complex. Below are the most common.

While MO HealthNet has a Spenddown Program that permits Medicaid applicants to spend “excess” income on medical expenses in order to meet Medicaid’s income limit, SNC prohibits persons from qualifying via this avenue.

When persons have assets over the limits, Irrevocable Funeral Trusts (IFTs) are an option. These are pre-paid funeral and burial expense trusts that Medicaid does not count as assets. Another option is to “spend down” extra assets on assets that are exempt from Medicaid’s asset limit. Examples include building on to one’s home, making home and safety modifications, purchasing home furnishings, and buying personal items, such as clothing. There are many other options when the applicant has assets exceeding the limit.

Inadequate planning or improperly implementing a Medicaid planning strategy can result in a denial or delay of MO HealthNet benefits. Professional Medicaid Planners are educated in the planning strategies available in Missouri to meet Medicaid’s financial eligibility criteria without jeopardizing Medicaid eligibility. Furthermore, while Medicaid’s 60-month Look-Back Rule does not apply to the Supplemental Nursing Care Program, it does apply to Nursing Home Medicaid and other long-term care Medicaid programs. If one might apply for one of these program in the future, it is vital that the Look-Back Rule not be violated. Medicaid planning strategies should ideally only be implemented with careful planning and well in advance of the need for long-term care. However, there are some workarounds, and Medicaid Planners are aware of them. For these reasons, it is highly suggested one consult a Medicaid Planner for assistance in qualifying for Medicaid when over the income and / or asset limit(s). Find a Medicaid Planner.

 

How to Apply for MO HealthNet Supplemental Nursing Care Program

Before You Apply

Prior to submitting an application for SNC, applicants need to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Applying when over the income and / or asset limit(s) will be cause for denial of benefits. The American Council on Aging offers a Medicaid Eligibility Test to determine if one might meet Medicaid’s eligibility criteria.

As part of the application process, applicants will need to gather documentation for submission. Examples include copies of Social Security cards, Medicare cards, life insurance policies, property deeds, pre-need burial contracts, previous bank statements, and proof of income. A common reason applications are held up is required documentation is missing or not submitted in a timely manner.

 

Application Process

To apply for the Supplemental Nursing Care Program, applicants must be eligible for MO HealthNet. Persons can apply online at myDSS, over the phone by calling the Family Support Division (FSD) at 1-855-373-4636, or in-person at one’s local family support office / resource center. When filling out the application, applicants should check the box indicating they live in a nursing home or a similar facility.

Persons already enrolled in MO HealthNet should fill out the “Addendum to MO HealthNet Application: Request for Optional Cash Benefits”. This form (form number IM-1MAC) can be found here by typing IM-1MAC into the search bar. When filling out the application, persons should check the Supplemental Nursing Care box.

Learn more about the Supplemental Nursing Care Program. Persons can also call FSD at 1-855-373-4636 or the Nursing Home Office in one’s area for information and / or assistance.

The Family Support Division (FSD) within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) administers the MO Supplemental Nursing Care Program.

 

Approval Process & Timing

The Medicaid / MO HealthNet application process can take up to 3 months, or even longer, from the beginning of the application process through the receipt of the determination letter indicating approval or denial. Generally, it takes one several weeks to complete the application and gather all of the supportive documentation. If the application is not properly completed, or required documentation is missing, the application process will be delayed. Based on federal law, Medicaid offices have up to 45 days to review and approve or deny one’s application (up to 90 days for disability applications). Despite the law, applications are sometimes delayed even further.

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