Medicaid and Annuities (Part 1)
The topic of annuities comes up regularly when we get a call regarding the need for Medicaid benefits to pay for long term care. Sometimes the caller has questions about whether it is a good idea to buy an annuity in anticipation of Medicaid. Other times someone
Medicaid’s Confusing Treatment of Trusts (Part 2)
Last week I wrote about trusts and how they are treated by Medicaid. Specifically, I am talking about irrevocable trusts. Most people assume that if they have placed their assets in an irrevocable trust, that by itself is enough to protect the assets from having to be spent down
Medicaid’s Confusing Treatment of Trusts
Not a week goes by in which someone doesn’t call us about Medicaid eligibility as it relates to trusts. The question is usually some version of the following, “I transferred assets to an irrevocable trust. Can you confirm for me that those assets are protected and not countable by
Assisted Living Medicaid is Still Not Retroactive (Part 2)
Last week I was telling you about an important difference between assisted living Medicaid and nursing home Medicaid. I explained this to my client but she heard – or thought she heard – something different from the facility. I had said that ALF Medicaid is not retroactive, meaning if
Assisting Living Medicaid is Still Not Retroactive (Part 1)
There are some very important differences in the Medicaid regulations and coverage for nursing home vs. ALF Medicaid. ALF Medicaid is a community based “waiver” program. It is not part of the basic Medicaid coverage that all states must agree to provide when they accept federal funds. Rather, this
Dad Gets Knocked Off of Medicaid (Part 2)
Last week I was telling you about John’s dad who was about to be knocked off of Medicaid. His mom had recently died. Her will stated that should Dad survive Mom her estate would pass to him. Included in the estate was the marital home which she was able
Dad Gets Knocked Off Medicaid
John called because his dad, who had been receiving Medicaid in a nursing home for several years, had just received a notice that his benefits were being terminated at the end of the month. He told me he had hired one of the companies that does Medicaid applications because
New Jersey Issues Updated Medicaid Penalty Divisor
The last time New Jersey updated it’s Medicaid penalty divisor was two years ago. The divisor is the State’s determination of what the average daily cost of nursing home care is across the State of New Jersey. Although it is supposed to be updated annually the last adjustment occurred
A Word About Caregiver Contracts
Mary called because her mom is currently in a nursing facility in Florida. She wants to bring her up north to be closer to Mary. She then told me that a Florida attorney prepared a personal services contract in which Mom paid Mary a sum of $100,000 to provide
Assisted Living Medicaid Isn’t Necessarily Forever (Part 2)
Last week I was telling you about Joe’s dad. He had qualified for Medicaid in an assisted living facility (ALF) and been assigned one of the facility’s 10% of its beds that are set aside for Medicaid residents. Everything was fine until he fell and broke his hip. When