12Law Arrow 12Law Arrow  Easy Questions  
12Law Arrow 12Law Arrow Instant Legal Documents
 
 
FINANCIAL & MARITAL

Cohabitation Agreement coming soon!
Separation Agreement coming soon!
No-Fault Divorce coming soon!
Bankruptcy coming soon!
 
 

Rules of Eligibility on Medicaid in Three Rivers, CA

Rules of Eligibility on Medicaid in Three Rivers, CA


You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live.
 
- Joan Baez


Medicaid, which is distinct from Medicare, provides health coverage to nearly 60 million children, families, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Medicaid covers US citizens and eligible immigrants and is generally provided for low income citizens.

Medicaid can pay for nursing home costs for senior citizens with few assets and low income. In some cases, this applies to senior citizens who have already spent almost all their savings paying their residential facility or home care and cannot sustain the expense.

In the case where one spouse lives at home and the other in a long term care facility, Medicaid can allow more assets to be retained while still qualifying for Medicaid. Planning plays an important role so that Medicaid can pay the nursing costs of for an elderly patient in a medical facility.

When does Medicaid Pay for Assisted Living or Nursing Home?

Medicaid provides for people with low income and limited assets. The program is a joint project by the state and federal government to assist senior citizens in terms of their assisted living care or nursing home needs. The state administers the program and has certain requirements for an elderly to qualify for the benefits.

Long Term Care Requirements

Long term care consists not only of medical care but also personal services for people who are ill and disabled.

State Provided Medicaid

Medicaid recipients will avail of the nursing facilities provided by every state for free. The state will also pay for the home health care services of the recipients who qualify for nursing home care. Medicaid funding can be used by the state to provide long term care services like health aides to those who are not qualified for assisted living facilities and in-home services.

Facilities Accepting Medicaid

Since Medicaid has certain mandatory federal requirements, not all nursing home or assisted living facilities accept Medicaid payments. There are facilities that accept Medicaid and they are subject to periodic inspection to make sure they meet the federal standards set by the state. You need to check with the facility to determine if they take Medicaid patients.

Medical Eligibility

Seniors are not the only persons assisted by Medicaid. Adults and young children who have needs for a nursing home care are also medically eligible for Medicaid after satisfying the requirements of the state. As long as it is proven "medically necessary" for a patient to be placed in a nursing home or health care facilities, and you meet the asset and income criteria, Medicaid will shoulder the expenses.

Financial Eligibility

Depending on the state where you are residing, Medicaid eligibility is set by the federal SSI (Supplemental Security Income). SSI also set the income limits.

Income Limits

Flexible medical guidelines are available in most state for long-term Medicaid reimbursement. These income guidelines depend upon the type of the long term program being applied for and used.

"Medically Needy" Guidelines

"Medically needy" refers to those people who have high income and assets yet their medical expenses are also very high. This means that their income is reduced. In Medicaid terms, this is referred to as "spending down".

Resource Limits

A person who has "spent down" would be eligible to qualify for Medicaid assistance. This is after a person's assets are higher than the Medicaid resource limit.

Asset Transfer

You can diminish your assets or do whatever you like while you are "spending down", getting below the qualifying asset criteria for Medicaid. However, you may not give away assets for less than market value. Medicaid will track your finances for the past five years to determine if your transferred assets in order to qualify for Medicaid. If they determine that you have done so, you will be ineligible to apply for Medicaid for a certain period. Penalty charges may also apply, even after restrictions are lifted and you will legally qualify for Medicaid assistance.

Contribution to Cost of Care

Before Medicaid pays for your care, they expect your available income would go to the long term medical care at a nursing home or other healthcare facility and you will only be allowed to keep a small fixed amount for your "personal needs allowance". The amount that you will be allowed to keep will depend on state laws and the arrangement you made with your healthcare facility. Arrangement can also be made for persons with more than what is allowed for Medicaid eligibility assets to put it in a trust in order to qualify for Medicaid. When the person dies, the trust proceeds will be paid to any long term medical care that was provided for by Medicaid. The rest, which may not be much, will go to the heirs.

Spousal Improvised Protection

Married couples who have one member needing a long-term care services will not be required by Medicaid to give up assets and income in order for the other who need health care to qualify for Medicaid. The healthy spouse is still allowed to live in the community and keep assets ranging from $22,000 to $110,000 depending on the state rules.

Future Medicaid Claim against Your Estate

Medicaid will claim your estate only if:

• You are 55 year old and receiving long-term medical care

• You are permanently institutionalized before you turn 55 year old

• If you pass away, Medicaid will have a claim on your estate for the amount they have spend to care for you (Medicaid estate recovery)

Medicaid will only claim your estate after your remaining spouse dies and you have not left behind any minor or disabled children.

 
Personalize & Print a Free CA Living Will Create This Document
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Related Legal Services near Three Rivers, CA
Chang, Marrian S Ogletree Deakins
400 S Hope St # 12
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 239-9800
Labor & Employment Law Attorneys, Attorneys
M Brian Mc Mahon Law Offices
333 S Grand Ave # 1670
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 628-9800
Environment & Natural Resources Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Ehline Law Firm PC
633 W 5th St # 2890
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 596-9642
Criminal Law Attorneys,  Accident & Property Damage Attorneys,  Personal Injury Law Attorneys,  Admi
Malosack Berjis
445 S. Figueroa St., 26th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 293-9491
Automobile Accident Attorneys,  Civil Litigation & Trial Law Attorneys,  Personal Injury Law Attorne
Kenneth J Kahn
633 W 5th St Suite 2600
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 955-9255
Attorneys, General Practice Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Stern Douglas W
555 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 892-9200
Daniel V. Santiago, P.C.
355 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(877) 596-9185
Labor & Employment Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Michael P. Ehline, Esq.
633 W 5th St #2890
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 291-9080
Attorneys,  Accident & Property Damage Attorneys,  Personal Injury Law Attorneys,  General Practice
Anthony M Vienna Law Offices
545 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 627-9045
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Southern California Law Advocates
515 S Flower St 17th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 330-8999
Bankruptcy Law Attorneys, Business Bankruptcy Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Robert M Aronson
444 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 688-8945
Bankruptcy Law Attorneys
First Charter Capital Inc
545 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 623-8899
Securities & Investment Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Lofgren Douglas W
601 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 623-8874
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys
Schmid & Voiles
333 S Hope St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 473-8700
General Practice Attorneys
Debra S. White
515 Flower St., 36th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(310) 909-8638
Criminal Law Attorneys, Domestic Violence Attorneys, Drug Charges Attorneys, DUI & DWI Attorneys
Stindt Thomas E
333 S Grand Ave # 1580
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 626-8541
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Richards Watson & Gershon
355 S Grand Ave Ste 40
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 626-8484
Attorneys,  Tax Attorneys,  Business Law Attorneys,  Real Estate Attorneys,  Appellate Practice Atto
Boles, Martin R - Kirkland & Ellis
300 S Grand Ave # 3000
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 680-8400
Litigation & Tort Attorneys, Attorneys
Reed Smith
355 S Grand Ave # 2900
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 457-8000
Product Liability Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Seebach & Seebach
633 W 5th St # 5410
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 553-7900
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys
John Goalwin Law Office
350 S Figueroa St # 499
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 202-7820
Attorneys,  Accident & Property Damage Attorneys,  DUI & DWI Attorneys,  Personal Injury Law Attorne
Marc T Little
445 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 612-7754
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Hensleigh Barbara
350 S Figueroa St # 580
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 617-7727
Insurance Attorneys, Attorneys
Bankers On Call Inc
445 S Figueroa St # 2600
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 612-7709
Bankruptcy Services,  Attorneys,  Business Bankruptcy Law Attorneys,  Bankruptcy Law Attorneys
12Law.com   |  NASHVILLE, TN USA   |  CONTACT US