Vicknair Law Firm

Medicaid

MEDICAID CRISIS PLANNING

SERVING CLIENTS IN MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA AND ALEXANDRIA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

SUDDEN CHANGES AND BIG DECISIONS

Change is life’s only constant. Sometimes these changes strike without warning. If you or a loved one has experienced a sudden illness or serious accident, you understand how abruptly everything can change. Are you or a loved one suddenly in need of nursing home care? Finding and affording quality care on short notice can be stressful and draining. We can help you determine the best options for care and how to qualify for Medicaid to help finance them.

LONG-TERM CARE: COUNTING THE COST

Long-term care is expensive, and these costs only continue to increase as baby boomers age. Although the range varies depending on where you live, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Study for 2020 the national median annual cost of a private nursing home room is $105,850 with a 3.57% annual increase since 2019. In Louisiana in 2021, the figure hovers at about $5,500 per month (minimum) to about $7,000 per month depending on the region of the state and the nursing home.  With improved medical care, the average life span of adults also is increasing; this translates into more years of care at increasingly higher rates. Without some sort of financial assistance, these costs could be financially devastating. In fact, your entire life savings could be quickly depleted within a few years of needing long-term care. This is where Medicaid can help.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program to assist those with low income and limited resources. While Medicare provides very limited long-term care coverage, Medicaid is much more extensive. However, because of its restrictions, qualifying for Medicaid can be extremely difficult. But paying for a nursing home without it could be all but impossible.

THE MEDICAID MAZE

Although Medicaid requirements vary from state to state, they all share one common element: complexity. Each state specifies a maximum allowed income for individuals and couples in order to qualify for Medicaid. Also, the applicant’s total assets cannot exceed a specified amount called the Individual Resource Allowance, which is consistently very low, often as low as $2,000*. Although certain possessions, like your home and automobile, are “exempted” for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility, this figure is still alarming. In other words, for a single or widowed person, the applicant must “spend down” to $2,000 or less of assets, not including a home and car (generally).  If the applicant is married, the process becomes more complicated. For the recipient to qualify for Medicaid, the applicant’s spouse can keep only a Maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance of $130,380. What is more, even if you believe your home is exempt upon going into the nursing home, that is only a half truth.  A poorly thought out plan may subject your home’s value at some point, putting your home up for grabs, due to Medicaid Estate Recovery.

What can you do if the value of your “non-exempt” assets exceeds the $130,380* Maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance? If you give your extra assets away, which seems like an obvious choice, you will encounter greater problems. Violating this “Transfer Penalty Rule” could disqualify you from receiving Medicaid for months or years, depending on how much you gave away.

If your need for nursing home care is immediate, time is not something you can afford to lose. Call Ted today to start the qualification process which includes getting started the 5-year “look back” and “penalty period.”

THE MEDICAID QUALIFICATION PROCESS = LEGALLY PROTECTING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THE LAW ALLOWS

This is only a brief and oversimplified review of a few Medicaid rules, of which there are many more. Navigating them on your own could be a nightmare at best and subject you to penalties at worst. Fortunately, though, I can guide you through the Medicaid maze and advise you throughout the application process, ensuring that you retain the maximum income and total assets allowed by law.

CONCLUSION

Seek appropriate counsel before you apply for and seek to qualify for Medicaid.  I can give you – and your family – peace of mind during a difficult and uncertain time. When dealing with Medicaid, legal advice is something you cannot afford to go without.

* The Individual Resource Amount varies from state to state.

** Since these amounts (e.g., the “Community Spouse Resource Allowance,” etc.) are adjusted annually, these numbers may vary slightly depending on when the most recent figures are released.

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