Medicaid Myths & Misconceptions

It is important to get professional advice regarding your long-term healthcare needs. Here are just a few myths and misconceptions about Medicaid.  We can provide you with guaranteed Medicaid Compliant Annuities. Please consult your attorney for advice before making any decisions.

  • If a person has Medicare they don’t need Medicaid.
  • I have to give away everything I own to get Medicaid.
  • If I give away assets to family or friends, I won't qualify for Medicaid.
  • I have to wait three years after giving anything away to get Medicaid.
  • I can keep all our marital property and my inherited property when my spouse gets Medicaid.
  • If I put my property in my spouse's name, I will be eligible for Medicaid.
  • Medicaid rules that applied to my friend when she went into a nursing home also apply to me.
  • If I enter a nursing home as a private pay resident, I must deplete my assets before I can get Medicaid.
  • I can only "spend down" my assets on medical or nursing home bills.
  • My power-of-attorney automatically has the power to take property out of my name, if I ever need Medicaid.
  • I can only give away $10,000 per year under Medicaid rules.

 

Consult an experienced attorney to determine how the Medicaid rules apply to your situation.

Links to State Medicaid Program Websites

Alabama http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/apply/index_apply.aspx?tab=3
Alaska http://health.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/medicaid/
Arizona http://www.azahcccs.gov/applicants/default.aspx
Arkansas https://www.medicaid.state.ar.us/InternetSolution/Consumer/Consumer.aspx
California http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/default.aspx
Colorado https://peak.state.co.us/selfservice/
Connecticut http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305218#MAID
Delaware http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dmma/medicaid.html
District of Columbia http://dhcf.dc.gov/dhcf/cwp/view,A,1412,Q,609122.asp
Florida http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Medicaid/index.shtml
Georgia http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHSDFCS/menuitem.83054cda1a084d2f7da1df8dda1010a0/?vgnextoid=36ca2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD
Hawaii http://hawaii.gov/dhs/health/medquest/QUEST_Overview
Idaho http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Medical/Medicaid/tabid/123/Default.aspx
Illinois http://www.familycareillinois.com/
Indiana http://www.in.gov/fssa/2408.htm
Iowa http://www.ime.state.ia.us/Members/index.html
Kansas http://www.khpa.ks.gov/healthwave/default.htm
Louisiana http://www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/?ID=92
Maine http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/
Maryland http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/Eligibility/med_medical%20asst%20overview_Doc%202/medasstov.html
Massachusetts http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2subtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Insurance+(including+MassHealth)&L3=Apply+for+MassHealth+Coverage&sid=Eeohhs2
Michigan http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2943_4860-35199--,00.html
Minnesota http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=dhs16_136855
Mississippi http://www.medicaid.ms.gov/Eligibility.aspx
Missouri http://www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/index.htm
Montana http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/programsservices/medicaid.shtml
Nebraska http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/med/medindex.htm
Nevada https://dwss.nv.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=96&Itemid=247
New Hampshire http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/MEDICAIDPROGRAM/default.htm
New Jersey http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/clients/
New Mexico http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/mad/CMedAssisPrograms.html
New York http://www.health.state.ny.us/health_care/medicaid/
North Carolina http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/medicaid/index.htm
North Dakota http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/medicalserv/
Ohio http://jfs.ohio.gov/OHP/consumer.stm
Oklahoma http://okhca.org/individuals.aspx?id=52&menu=40&parts=11601_7453
Oregon http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/app_benefits/main.shtml
Pennsylvania http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/MedicalAssistance/
Rhode Island http://dhs.embolden.com/DefaultPermissions/HealthCare/tabid/945/Default.aspx
South Carolina http://www.scdhhs.gov/beneficiaries.asp
South Dakota http://dss.sd.gov/sdmedx/includes/portal/verifyeligibility/index.aspx
Tennessee http://www.tn.gov/tenncare/members.html
Texas http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Medicaid/med_info.html
Utah http://health.utah.gov/medicaid/
Vermont http://www.greenmountaincare.org/about/green_mountain_care_programs.html
Virginia http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/rcp-home.htm
Washington http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/
West Virginia http://www.wvdhhr.org/bms/oMedPolicyCor/YourGuideMedicaid.pdf
Wisconsin http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/ForwardHealth/index.htm
Wyoming http://www.health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/medicaideligibility/index.html

Key Medicaid Facts

According to information published on ElderLawAnswers.com:

Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA):   
Minimum: $109,560  
Maximum: $109,560

Increased CSRA:    California follows the income-first rule as of March 1, 2006, for fair hearings only, but the courts retain the power to shift assets first, and most courts will do so upon proper application.

Annuities:    Actuarially sound annuities are permitted for eligibility purposes, but the state will seek recovery, following the death of the Medi-Cal beneficiary, against annuities purchased after 09/01/2004.

Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance:   
Minimum: $2,739   
Maximum: $2,739

Click For Complete Information

Info provided by Gene L. Osofsky of Osofsky and Osofsky, with offices in Hayward and Pleasanton, CA.

 

Key Medicaid / Medi-Cal Information for California for 2010

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Last Updated: 5/3/2010 2:10:23 PM

Protections for the Community Spouse 

Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA):

Minimum: $109,560
Maximum: $109,560

Increased CSRA:

California follows the income-first rule as of March 1, 2006, for fair hearings only, but the courts retain the power to shift assets first, and most courts will do so upon proper application.

Annuities:

Actuarially sound annuities are permitted for eligibility purposes, but the state will seek recovery, following the death of the Medi-Cal beneficiary, against annuities purchased after 09/01/2004.

Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance:

Minimum: $2,739
Maximum: $2,739

For explanation, click here. 

Transfers 

Average monthly cost of nursing home care according to state:

$6,311

For explanation, click here. 

Has a Long-Term Care Partnership program been implemented?

Yes

For explanation, click here. 

Income 

Is the state an income cap state?

No

For explanation, click here. 

Estate Recovery 

Has the state expanded the definition of estate beyond the probate estate?

Yes

Has the state included a hardship provision in its estate recovery plan?

Yes

For explanation, click here. 




This information was kindly provided by Gene L. Osofsky of Osofsky and Osofsky, with offices in Hayward and Pleasanton, Ca.