Hello;
As you may already know Medicaid is funded and regulated by both
federal and state governments. While federal regulations are the same
state to state, state requirements do differ so you will need to check
your state’s criteria as well as the federal.
In general, Medicaid will pay the part of your nursing home costs
that your own income doesn’t cover. In most states, you cannot keep
more than $30 to $50 a month for personal needs. It will also cover
some basic needs, such as toiletries and over-the-counter medications.
It will not pay for clothing. In addition, Medicaid will pay for
prescription drugs and some other services not paid for by Medicare.
To qualify for Medicaid, generally you must:
Have $2,000 or less in savings and other assets. Some assets are not
counted, such as your home or a burial fund.
Meet the income requirements set by the state. You may also qualify
for Medicaid if your income is higher than this limit but your nursing
home bills and medical expenses exceed it.
Undergo a screening to make sure you meet your states medical and
functional criteria for nursing home care.
To use Medicaid, you must be in a nursing home that accepts Medicaid.
Most, but not all, nursing homes do.
Following are common Questions and Answers from the AARP web site:
Can I be forced to sell my home if I get Medicaid?
Your state is required to try to recover money from your estate to
cover what it spent on your nursing home care. Therefore, the state
may place a lien on your home. However, it cannot require you to sell
your home while you are living if there is a reasonable chance you
will go back there, or if you have a living spouse or dependents. Ask
a lawyer, the long-term care ombudsman, or your local Medicaid office
for details about your state’s laws and practices on "Medicaid estate
recovery."
Should I try to protect my assets or give some of my money to
relatives before I qualify for Medicaid?
You may have heard of people giving their assets to relatives or using
legal loopholes to qualify for Medicaid without "spending down" their
savings. Congress has closed most of the loopholes, and there are
penalties for improperly transferring assets. Unfortunately, the law
sometimes punishes good deeds.
If you are considering giving money or other assets to help out a
family member -- for example, to buy a new home or finance a college
education -- your gift could affect your eligibility for Medicaid. If
the gift occurs within three to five years of the date you apply for
Medicaid, the amount you give away could be considered assets you
should have spent toward your care.
Consult a qualified financial advisor or an attorney trained in "elder
law" if you are considering protecting assets through a trust or
another means, or giving some of your assets to others.
What will my spouse live on if I’m in a nursing home on Medicaid?
If you are married, you can ensure that your spouse’s resources are
protected to the maximum extent allowed by the law. If you’re
considering Medicaid, it is important to know your state’s policies on
spousal protection.
Generally:
Your spouse can keep at least $1,451 a month in income, though your
state may allow him or her to keep up to the federal maximum of
$2,175.
Your spouse can keep half of your combined assets, up to a maximum of
$87,000, or at a minimum, $17,400 (in addition to your home and some
other assets).
Your state cannot force you to sell your home while your spouse or
dependent children are living, even if they do not live in the home.
For more information and for Medicaid forms for each state click on
the link below:
AARP
Web site with information on aging and related concerns. I found most
of my information on this site.
http://www.aarp.org
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Federal agency that oversees Medicaid.
http://cms.hhs.gov
American Public Human Services Association
Link to each state’s Medicaid information and forms.
http://medicaid.aphsa.org/links.htm
Good luck! |
