NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2015
COMMON MEDICAID MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE
- IT’S TOO LATE: It is never too late to plane even after a loved one has been admitted to a nursing home.
- APPLYING TOO EARLY: You have to be careful for in doing so you could unknowingly cause a longer period of ineligibility.
- APPLYING TOO LATE: Again, you have to be careful for in doing so you could cause a long period of ineligibility resulting in additional nursing home costs that can reach thousands of dollars.
- NOT GETTING HELP: Please don’t do it yourself. You are probably going to get one chance to be eligible for Medicaid. Thousands of dollars are at stake if not done correctly. Not only can the applicant be adversely affected but a spouse as well.
5. FORGETTING THE SPOUSE OF A NURSING HOME RESIDENT: There are
protections available such as purchasing a qualified immediate annuity,
petitioning for an increase in the community spouse resource allowance,
investing in exempt assets, and keeping the maximum amount of assets
allowed by law.
6. NOT BEING AWARE OF THE AVAILABLE SAFE HARBORS: Congress has
created safe harbors to take advantage of. Certain transfers of property are
allowed by law without jeopardizing one’s eligibility for Medicaid. For
example, such transfers could be made to disabled children, caretaker
children, and certain siblings.
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