Health Insurance Fair Deal - savings running out

Johnboy45

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I've searched but couldn't find a similar thread. Elderly family member in a private nursing home, currently paying 2500euro per month based on the fair deal scheme. This is taken from her savings (previous sale of house), and she has no other assets. We sought and got a review of her case in the scheme after 4 years and her monthly contribution to the nursing home was reduced. However, her savings are now being rapidly spent and she is getting worried about what happens when her funds run out. She has a small widows work pension and the old age pension as only income.

What happens when her savings are gone – does she then pay 80% of her income (ie the pension) and can she continue in the same nursing home ?

I see the first 36,000 are excluded from assessment – does this mean when she gets to 36k left in savings, she can keep that money for herself - she is very concerned she will have nothing left for her funeral and to give a bit to her grandchildren. (She is of the age where paying for your own funeral is very important to her) Is there a way to now give the children/grandchildren a small gift from her savings without upsetting the fair deal scheme?
 
When your mother's savings are coming down near the €36,000 apply to the HSE for a review. They will adjust the amount she will have to pay and they will pay the balance. She can definitely stay in the same nursing home - they will get paid the same amount but the HSE will contribute the major part. She is entitled to keep the €36. I don't think she can give gifts now as the figures are based on the review that was previously done but once she gets to the €36 she can do what she likes with her own money.
 
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I see the first 36,000 are excluded from assessment – does this mean when she gets to 36k left in savings, she can keep that money for herself - she is very concerned she will have nothing left for her funeral and to give a bit to her grandchildren. (She is of the age where paying for your own funeral is very important to her) Is there a way to now give the children/grandchildren a small gift from her savings without upsetting the fair deal scheme?
The €36K disregard can certainly be used to pay for her funeral or left to whoever after her passing. I don’t know how the HSE would view your relation gifting money before she dies when her balance has dropped below the €36K disregard amount, an interesting question.

Even if it can be gifted without issue while your relation is living, I don’t think it is a good idea to do so.
Fair Deal only covers basic care, it does not cover things like activity charges, outings, clothing, hairdressing, physiotherapy, dentistry and an endless list of other possible expenses.
One of my relations in a nursing home under Fair Deal needed a specialist chair that cost €5K, another spent over €6K on physiotherapy, one still pays €2K annually for VHI.

Your relation might need this €36K herself before she passes. Reassure her that the children / grandchildren will all get their gifts then.
 
It doesn’t sound like she has much and she might need it for herself so suggest she prioritise herself and deal with small giftyin the will.
 
If you can try and get a medical card. Even where a pension is over the threshold if you have significant medical needs that might be enough to get it.
 
Thanks for replies, very helpful and gives me plenty of info to pass on to her family, and the recommendation of having another fairdeal financial review done. Good point too re needing to pay for nursing home ancilliaries in the future - thankfully the home she's in doesn't charge excessively for hair, chiropodist, etc. Ignoring gifts to grandkids, if she knows she can stay in same nursing home and has enough to buy her own little bits and pieces, it'll be a big weight off her mind.

Question on the medical card - she has the full card. Am I correct that she should only be paying max of 15e per month (over 75yrs of age). Should things like the high calorie protein drinks which the chemist supplies be included in her prescription ? her GP recommends she takes them to keep her weight up but they aren't on the prescription. Wondering should they be included ?
 
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