Missouri Medicaid Allowance has been Raised

Missouri’s Medicaid personal needs allowance has finally been raised. Though this change is much appreciated, the effects on Missouri seniors will be minimal. The personal needs allowance which was previously set at $30 a month, has been raised to a monthly allowance of $35.
    This Missouri allowance is one of the lowest in the country and is in stark contrast to that of the neighboring state, Kansas, which has a monthly allowance of over $60.
    This amount is meant to cover all of the personal needs when in a nursing home. This includes all toiletries and room supplies, all hair and nail appointments (and we all know mom and grandma need to get their hair done weekly), all meals out, bingo money and birthday cards. With Hallmark cards nearing $5 a pop, we better hope that there aren’t too many birthdays in one month.
     The point of realization that mom, or dad, or grandma needs to be in a nursing home is never easy, and not being able to afford it is another stressor. This hard transition should not be exasperated by forced destitution. When moved out of a lifelong home, it is the small comforts such as hair appointments or birthday cards to grandchildren that make all of the difference.     Though this increase will only make the difference of one extra toothbrush, Missouri finally seems to be moving along the right track to a more reasonable personal needs allowance.