10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Jacksonville, FL

Most families use some private funds to pay for their loved one’s assisted living facility. Private funds include retirement accounts, investments, income from pensions, and equity in real estate or other assets. However, these are not the only private means families can use to afford the best assisted living facility for their loved one. Learn more about how to use private funds to pay for an assisted living facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville has the third-highest military presence of any city in the United States and bills itself as the most veteran-friendly city in the nation. Because Jacksonville houses Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and multiple military facilities, it has a large number of veterans of all ages. Because 17% of veterans in Jacksonville are 75+, senior veterans looking for assisted living will find a welcoming and well-resourced community in the Bold New City of the South.

Can I pay for my assisted living in Jacksonville, FL, with veterans benefits?

Yes, many veterans and their families use their veterans benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help pay for their assisted living expenses. The Aid and Attendance benefit is the most generous and can be used to pay for anything that improves your loved one’s quality of life, including any costs associated with assisted living. There are several other veterans benefits that you or your loved one may be eligible for, so it’s best to talk with a veterans benefits counselor, even before starting your application.

Am I eligible for veterans benefits?

You may find that your loved one is eligible for more veterans benefits than you think. The eligibility criteria for veterans benefits, such as the VA Pension and the Aid and Attendance benefit can be complicated. Some eligibility criteria are dependent on which conflict your loved one was in, and criteria can change. Therefore, it’s important to work with a benefits counselor to determine for which benefits your loved one is eligible for and to walk you through the application process.

Veterans benefits counseling in Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville lives up to its reputation as a veteran-friendly city by dedicating a city department to veterans affairs. But veterans in Jacksonville can access valuable benefits counseling from a variety of programs and organizations, some of which are run by the federal and local governments while others are unaffiliated.

Local veterans and their families can receive benefits counseling from these organizations in Jacksonville, Florida:

• The City of Jacksonville’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department. Jacksonville’s Department of Military Affairs and Veterans is dedicated to serving local veterans and their families. Through this department, the city of Jacksonville provides robust benefits counseling and can even appeal decisions in court on behalf of veterans and their loved ones. Veterans service officers are the primary benefits counselors. Additionally, veterans and their families can learn about local housing and employment opportunities in Jacksonville for veterans. To contact a veterans service officer directly, call the department using the number listed below.
• The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA). Veterans and their families can access 100% virtual benefits counseling through the FDVA. These benefits counselors can determine which benefits you should apply for and will help you through the application process. You can set up your virtual appointment by calling 727-319-7408.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Jacksonville. Local VFW and DAV chapters are unaffiliated with federal or state governments and can advocate for veterans applying for benefits. These programs offer robust benefits counseling and can appeal decisions on behalf of veterans and their families. They also provide community-building events and are a great way to get involved with the local veteran community in Jacksonville.

Seniors in Jacksonville may be able to pay for some of their assisted living expenses with Florida Medicaid, the state’s Medicaid program. Run by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Florida Medicaid is intended to help cover health care costs for low-income individuals.

Florida Medicaid offers two different plans:

• Managed Medical Assistance (MMA). If your loved one needs an assisted living level of care, they probably shouldn’t enroll in the MMA plan. The MMA plan functions like all other health insurance plans and covers basic medical services. These include doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital care. The MMA plan doesn’t cover any housing or meals at long-term care facilities.
• Long-Term Care (LTC). If your loved one needs the type of care provided in an assisted living facility, they should likely enroll in Florida Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Plan. Specifically for individuals who need a nursing home level of care, the LTC plan will cover more care services than the MMA plan. This plan is also called the State Wide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program (SMMC LTC).

What does Florida Medicaid’s LTC plan cover?

Florida Medicaid’s LTC plan should cover all of the medical services covered by the MMA plan and the personal care services in an assisted living facility. Examples of what the LTC plan may cover include the following:

• Personal care, such as bathing, grooming, and mobility
• Medication administration
• Occupational, physical, respiratory, and speech therapy
• Housekeeping
• Social programs
• Transportation to and from LTC services

What does Florida Medicaid’s LTC plan not cover?

Florida Medicaid’s LTC plan does not cover rent or meals in an assisted living facility. However, it will cover rent and meals in a Medicaid-approved nursing home. In Florida, any facility that provides skilled nursing services is considered a nursing home. This means that your loved one’s assisted living facility may be considered a nursing home if it provides skilled nursing services. In that case, you may be able to cover rent and meals with Florida Medicaid’s LTC plan.

Is my loved one eligible for Florida Medicaid’s LTC plan?

To qualify for Florida Medicaid, a senior must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Florida resident
• Be without other health insurance
• Be low-income: A single individual can make up to $18,075 annually, and a couple can make up to $24,353 annually. These numbers change each year.

To qualify for the LTC plan, a senior must meet certain criteria stating they’re in need of a nursing facility level of care. This usually means going through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) program. Usually, being in need of personal assistive care qualifies a senior for the LTC plan. You can set up a free needs assessment by contacting your local Medicaid office.

Home and Community Based Services waivers

Seniors in Florida may qualify for a Home and Community Based Services waiver (HCBS waiver) to cover their home care services. HCBS waivers are also called Section 1915(c) waivers, and they are part of the SMMC LTC plan. If you or your loved one is over 65 and is eligible for both Medicaid and the LTC SMMC plan, then you or your loved one is likely eligible for the HCBS waiver in Jacksonville. A senior can receive personal care, such as assistance with bathing, grooming, eating, meal preparation, and mobility services from the location of their choice using an HCBS waiver.

Can my loved one get help applying for Florida Medicaid?

Yes, seniors in Jacksonville, Florida, can access Medicaid benefits counseling services through a few different organizations. Applying for Medicaid can be confusing, especially for seniors coming from a different state. However, you or your loved one are likely eligible for more assistance than you realize. Take advantage of these resources to get the help you need.

The Florida Department of Health-Duval County employs Human Services Counselors who can help you determine which benefits you’re eligible for. Jacksonville’s Senior Services organization can also help you apply for your Medicaid benefits. You can direct any complaints about Florida Medicaid to the Florida Ombudsman Citizens’ Aide, who will either help solve your issue or direct you towards someone who can.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program specifically for seniors over 65 who have paid their Medicare taxes or are married to someone who has. Any senior who’s applied for retirement or disability benefits is automatically enrolled in Medicare, but some seniors still need to apply on the Social Security website.

What does Medicare cover?

Medicare only covers short-term and medically necessary health care expenses. Short-term means that Medicare will pay for up to 20 days of in-patient care in a hospital or a rehabilitation facility. This includes rent, meals, and all care services. From day 20 to day 100, Medicare only pays some of the costs, and the senior pays a daily copay. Medicare may also cover some recurring expenses, such as dialysis.

Medically necessary means that a physician has determined that the procedure, item, or test is necessary for the individual to maintain their standard of living. What’s medically necessary for one person may not be for another. You can explore some of the more common medically necessary procedures, items, or tests on the Medicare coverage portal.

Will Medicare cover assisted living expenses?

No, Medicare will not cover assisted living expenses. Assisted living care primarily includes personal care instead of medical care, and it often lasts much longer than the short-term procedures covered by Medicare. This means that Medicare will not cover rent, meals, or many of the personal care services received in an assisted living facility.

Can residents of Jacksonville, FL, get help paying Medicare premiums?

Yes, seniors in Jacksonville can get help paying their Medicare premiums. Local Medicare Savings Programs can assist seniors to pay for costs associated with Medicare. The federal Medicare website has information about these programs. Seniors can apply by contacting Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) directly.

To be eligible, seniors must be under the income limit, which can be between $1,153 and $1,549 a month as these income limits are adjusted annually for inflation.

Can my loved one get help applying for Medicare?

Yes, seniors can get help applying for Medicare. First, seniors and their loved ones can review the Medicare website, check their benefit eligibility, and explore the covered tests, items, or services. If you need more help, you can contact the human services counselors through the Florida Department of Health-Duval County. The local Ombudsman Citizens’ Aide can take any complaints you may have about your Medicare benefits.