Category: Uncategorized

Care Givers

It’s not uncommon to hear spouses not wanting or rejecting the idea of allowing someone to assist them with their loved ones care. They refuse any assistance, such as, lifting their loved ones in and out of bed, placing them in and out of wheelchairs, laundry, dressing, changing their soiled cloths, cooking and feeding them… Read more »

Who is eligible for Medicaid?

Most people believe they are not eligible for Medicaid, because they were told they need to spenddown their life savings before they can apply for Medicaid medical assistance. While it’s true that a Medicaid applicant in 2018 cannot have more than $15,500 in resources it is also true that applicants are allowed to transfer their… Read more »

Spenddown

What a dreadful word “spenddown” is. Several time a week I hear the word from many families telling me they were informed that their loved ones are not Medicaid eligible until they spenddown their life savings. It’s clear that Medicaid personal will tell applicants to spenddown their life savings, because they are not allowed to… Read more »

When should applicants file for Medicaid?

When is it a good time to apply for Medicaid if you have excess resources? Some will tell you that applicants need to spend all of their resources before applying. Although this is an option it’s not their only choice. Let’s consider the following scenario: Applicant One: Has $200k in resources and was informed that… Read more »

Don’t Wait

I am sure we all read the book Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait for the arrival of someone named Godot who never arrives. Unfortunately many families are doing the same when it comes to their loved ones home care services or nursing home care. Unbeknownst to… Read more »

Medicaid Denials

The topic of denials is so important that I am compelled to discuss over and over again. The key to this Blog is to eliminate the fear of a denial. Medicaid denials can be a credited to several common issues, which by the way, can either be avoided or corrected. Some examples as to why Medicaid… Read more »

Caregiver Agreement

Caregiver Agreement: Caregiver agreement, also known as Personal Service Contract, allows nursing home applicants the ability to protect some of the transferred assets by hiring private care and services, which Medicaid does not provide, such as, companions; assistance in financial matters, paying bills, purchasing clothing, and other incidentals as needed; assistance in arranging legal and… Read more »

What is an MLTC and how does it apply to the applicant?

Today, all Medicaid applicants requiring home-care services must join a Mange Long Term Care plan (“MLTC”). There are several MLTC’s to choose from, but basically all offer the same services with very little differences. Once the applicant is financially approved by Medicaid the applicant needs to get a medical assessment by a Medicaid nurse. Upon… Read more »

Medicaid-funded Assisted Living Program (ALP)

How can individuals who cannot remain at home safely, and are not candidates or do not meet the medical requirements for nursing home care find a proper place to live in the society? Of course they can enter a private assisted living and spend their life savings on room and board until they deplete all… Read more »

Can a Promissory Note assist in saving money?

A Promissory Note is a great tool to protect a good portion of a nursing home Medicaid applicant’s life savings. Promissory notes are loans between the applicant and the borrower. The borrower promises to pay the applicant in monthly increments until the note is satisfied. Lets explore the issue more closely and see how it… Read more »