What is it like to spend down to Medicaid?

Marlene S. Stum, Ph.D. Family Social Science

What is a spend down?

"A spend down occurs when private or family finances are depleted so far that an individual becomes eligible for public sources of payment through Medicaid. This process of voluntary impoverishment is a transition from private to public sources of payment for long-term care." (Stum, 1998).

What is it like to spend down to Medicaid to pay for long term care?

A study of families who were spending down to Medicaid to pay for long term care and those who had already become eligible for Medicaid, found that families experienced multiple losses including; loss of control, choice and dignity (Stum, 1998). The following are quotes from the study that illustrate the specific themes that emerged from the research both for families that were in the process of spending down to Medicaid and those who had already become eligible for Medicaid.