What! Medicare Does Not Pay for Long-Term Care?!

Don’t be surprised. Medicare will pay for a limited stay of 150 days or fewer in a nursing home, but only after a hospitalization. Medicare cannot be counted on for long-term care benefits.

Medicaid Long-Term Care

Unlike Medicare, Medicaid pays medical costs and long-term care costs, as a payer of last resort. To qualify, strict financial and other eligibility requirements must be met. The rules governing Medicaid are complex, and frequently change, requiring great care in the planning and application for benefits.

Medicaid is a federal government program run by the states that pays for medical services for low-income individuals and families. One need not be broke to qualify for Medicaid. Benefits from Medicaid can be crucial when facing a big medical expense because unexpected medical costs can strip away your home and assets. It is vital to understand the government options available to protect yourself.

Medicaid Planning and Applications

We help people qualify for Medicaid using asset management techniques, assist with the Medicaid application to get approved faster, and overcome Medicaid claims denied.

Medicaid Planning in Advance of Need is Vital

Holliman & Holliman can create a plan for your elderly loved one without sacrificing a home or other assets. Decisions regarding the use of a trust as part of a Medicaid plan require careful review of an individual’s circumstances. If assets are held in a revocable trust, they are considered available for Medicaid reimbursement purposes. An irrevocable income-only trust, known as a Medicaid Trust, will protect the assets held by the trust after a designated time period. Income generated by assets held in an irrevocable trust will be considered available to pay for the cost of long-term care.

Medicaid Laws

State Medicaid programs seek recovery of benefits paid to a Medicaid recipient from his or her estate which would be your beneficiaries’ inheritance otherwise. Each state determines which assets will be included in the Medicaid estate. Medicaid programs can also recover funds from a community spouse’s estate. If assets are held by a community spouse, meaning the spouse has stayed in the community, the state may have rights to recover for Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of the applicant spouse. These rules are evolving and should be analyzed in each case by our Medicaid attorneys.

Reach Out to Us

Older adults and families with aging parents can obtain public funding for long-term care when the need arises but remember, timing is critical.

Call us today at 205-663-0281 to schedule a consultation. John Holliman or Melanie B. Holliman (formerly Melanie B. Bradford) will explain about your elderly loved one’s eligibility for government programs and assist with the entire application process.