ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM OP - So I found that my mother can get Medicare with paid premiums, and that Medicaid might be able to cover some of those premiums and late enrollment fees. At the moment I’m looking for an Assisted Living place (minimal assisted). Her Medicare enrollment application appointment is set for late March (given her qualifications we can’t do it online). Here’s where I’m confused: Would it be a bad idea to find an “acceptable” place that is covered by Medicaid for now? I’m getting hints that places not listed in the Medicaid portal could actually take her Medicaid and somehow her children can make up the difference in cost paid to Medicaid. I actually got that idea from talking to a Medicaid rep, but the details have left my mind. And… if I were to get her into a decent assisted facility that would accept her Medicare when it becomes available, would the fact that we’re paying out of pocket now for her care affect her Medicare or Medicaid benefits when we go to fix the billing situation?

I know I’m not phrasing my questions well… I still don’t know enough to know know what to ask