Elder Law, Estate Planning and Asset Protection Services
Estate Planning
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Elder Law
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Medicaid
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Special Needs Trusts
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VA Veterans Aid and Attendance
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Medicaid Estate Planning
"I'm worried that if I need nursing home care, my spouse will loose our house"
For all practical purposes, in the United States Medicaid is the insurer of last resort for long-term institutional and nursing home care. Lacking access to
alternatives such as paying privately or being covered by a long-term
care insurance policy, most people pay out of their own pockets for
long-term care until they become eligible for Medicaid. Although their
names are confusingly alike, Medicaid and Medicare are quite different
programs. For one thing, all retirees who receive Social Security
benefits also receive Medicare as their health insurance. Medicare is an
"entitlement" program. Medicaid, on the other hand, is a needs based progam. So to be eligible for
Medicaid, you must become "impoverished" under the program's guidelines.
Also, unlike Medicare, which is totally federal, Medicaid is a joint federal-state program. Each state operates its own Medicaid system, but this system must conform to federal guidelines in order for the state to receive federal money, which pays for about half the state's Medicaid costs. (The state picks up the rest of the tab.) Those who are not in immediate need of long-term care may have the luxury of distributing or protecting their assets in advance. This way, when they do need long-term care, they will quickly qualify for Medicaid benefits. Giving general rules for so-called "Medicaid planning" is difficult because every client's case is different. Some have more savings or income than others. Some are married, others are single. Some have family support, others do not. Some own their own homes, some rent. Still, a number of basic strategies and tools are typically used in Medicaid planning. |
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