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 Hope, ME

Rules of Eligibility on Medicaid in Hope, ME


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 ME 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 Hope, ME
Runyon Elmer E
PO Box 599
Parsonsfield, ME 04047
(207) 625-9374
Attorneys
Runyon Elmer E Atty
574 North Rd
Parsonsfield, ME 04047
(207) 625-9374
Attorneys
Federle Mahoney
100 Water St
Hallowell, ME 04347
(207) 620-7020
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Stewart Douglas
722 Webber St
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-4773
Attorneys
Wuori N & T
3030 Main St
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3844
Attorneys
Drechsel Jeanne & Russ
5002 Mountain View Rd
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3738
Attorneys Referral & Information Service
Cresta James & Debra
2625 Alder Brook Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3715
Attorneys
Jackson Patrick & Christina
5006 N Woods Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3633
Attorneys
Coulter Benton R Jr
2573 Beaver Brook Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3571
Attorneys
Smith Tyler & Mitch
2702 Winterbrook Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3526
Attorneys
Shea David & Barbara
2642 Alder Brook Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3468
Attorneys
Cotnoir Jane
2205 Adams Mountain Rd
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3228
Attorneys
Biberstein K
7029 First Tracks Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3010
General Practice Attorneys
Albiston Charles & Sharon
6022 Sandy River Cir
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-3004
Attorneys
Edwards Elizabeth
2613 Alder Brook Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2881
Attorneys
Whitledge William
5001 Mountain View Rd
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2850
Attorneys
Hellstedt Jon & Sharon
460 Snowflower Ct
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2668
Attorneys
Dawson Peter T
6 Warren St
Hallowell, ME 04347
(207) 623-2628
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys
Rutland Holly & Mont Gomery Sara
411 Snowflower Ct
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2569
Criminal Law Attorneys
Williams Barbara
2527 Trout Brook Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2539
Attorneys
Goodrich James
7006 First Tracks Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2532
General Practice Attorneys
Acker Mark & Tammy
6003 Piscataqua Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2427
Attorneys
White Timothy & Dorothy
6025 Penobscot Cir
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2370
Attorneys
Scullen Steve
6004 Piscataqua Ln
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2352
Attorneys
12Law.com   |  NASHVILLE, TN USA   |  CONTACT US