Planning will help protect you and your family.

FREE 2011 Medicaid Questions and Answers brochure.

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Medicaid Qualification

Planning Will Help Protect You and Your Family

Issues regarding the elderly and disabled are complex. Now, Federal and State laws have changed drastically and finding answers to your questions can be difficult. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions.

1. How Can We Help You? It is a very emotional time when faced with the illness of your spouse or aging parent. Getting the best care for your loved one is critical. Yet, the fear of how to pay for that care can be overwhelming, causing you to take no action at all. You do not have to be alone when making these decisions. Like the hundreds of clients before you, we help you understand all your options for getting Medicaid while protecting assets. It is what we do. Here are a few simple answers to frequently asked questions.

2. How Do I Apply? Please do not rush to fill out a Medicaid application. In most cases, Medicaid eligibility can be obtained retroactively for up to 3 months. In fact, we often see avoidable mistakes made by applying too soon, even if you think you meet Medicaid eligibility already. So, please do not allow anyone to apply for Medicaid until you have received one-on-one legal guidance from our office. Planning should be done before the Medicaid application. Where it is necessary, we can help develop a comprehensive plan to meet Medicaid's spend-down requirements (see chart), while protecting assets.

2011 Asset and Income Eligibility Levels*
INCOME
Applicant	Spouse
Income must be less than $2,022 per month.	Keeps all income.
	Note: Minimum income for spouse to live on is $1,822 for spousal diversion purposes.

ASSETS
Applicant	Spouse
"Exempt" assets plus...	"Exempt assets" plus...
"Countable assets" limited to $2,000 or less.	"Countable assets" limited to $109,560 or less.
*Effective Jan. 1,2011

Most of the time, our comprehensive plans will include our services for filing the Medicaid application also.

3. Will Medicaid Take My House Or Car? A car of any value will not be counted as an asset. As for a home which was previously exempt under the old law, the new Medicaid laws count a homestead of greater than $500,000 in value as a countable asset, requiring spend-down, in most cases.

4. If My Spouse Needs Medicaid, What Can I Protect? Assets exempt from Medicaid include: a prepaid burial plan and burial plot; personal effects and furnishings; irrevocable pre-paid funeral plan of any value and life insurance with cash value up to $2,500. Countable assets for the spouse may equal $109,560, while the ill spouse may keep $2,000. While most income of an ill person must be paid to the nursing home, an unlimited amount of income belonging to the spouse may be kept.