…and More Clients
Helping seniors and their families make informed decisions about long term care.
Mr. M was referred to Medicaid Matters by an attorney for assistance in “upgrading” his mother’s Medicaid benefits to full Medicaid. Medicaid Matters was able to provide Medicaid Mentoring services and encourage Mr. M to work directly with the case worker at the local office. And more… Medicaid Matters was able to put Mr. M in back in contact with the social service agency that had helped his parents in the past for on-going free assistance with Medicaid redeterminations, utility assistance programs, and future in-home care services for when his mother was released from the nursing home, or if his father began to need assistance. Mr. M was re-referred back to the attorney for additional legal services: a Power of Attorney for Property, a Power of Attorney for Health, and additional legal advice regarding asset protection of the condo that he had helped purchase for his parents.
Mr. M wanted to be sure that his daughter, who is his primary caregiver, will receive the house when he dies. Medicaid Matters met with Mr. M and his daughter to discuss the Medicaid rules regarding transfer of the home to a caregiver child, as well as in-home care services that may help the daughter continue caring for her father at home. And more… A Long Term Care Plan was outlined including recommendations to pursue VA Aid and Assist, meet with an Elder Law Attorney for Estate Planning that includes the ability to make allowable transfers to qualify for future Medicaid benefits, and a referral to a Senior Health Insurance Counselor to enroll in Medicare Part D (to supplement any medications that may not be covered by the VA programs). Mr. M may not need Medicaid, but he’s informed in case the need arises in the future. Mr. P’s doctor suggested that he speak with an attorney about Medicaid and Long Term Care for his wife. The attorney partnered with Medicaid Matters to work with Mr. P on Medicaid, while the attorney prepared Estate Planning documents for Mr. P. Medicaid Matters worked with Mr. P to determine the pros and cons of providing care in the home versus having his wife continue to receive care in the nursing home. Medicaid Matters also provided copies of the Medicaid Manual provisions relating to Support of a Responsible Relative to reassure Mr. P that he would be allowed to use most of his pension for his own living expenses. A nursing home employee incorrectly informed that he would only be allowed to keep $2,739.00 of his pension.* *The Community Spouse Maintenance Needs Allowance ($2,739.00 in 2009-2010) is the amount up to which the nursing home resident can defer to the non-Medicaid spouse for their living expenses. However, the amount that the non-Medicaid spouse (Responsible Relative) may need to contribute towards the Medicaid spouse’s care, it is based on a sliding scale and unrelated to (and in this case, much less than) the $2,739.00 figure. When Mr. L’s father began making poor decisions due to dementia, he took his father’s money and put it into accounts with his own name. Mr. L paid for his father’s expenses from the account, but Mr. L was concerned that when it came time to apply for Medicaid the transfer of funds could posed a potential delay in benefits. Mr. L’s attorney referred him to Medicaid Matters for information on how Medicaid uses a penalty period to determine a period of ineligibility, and suggested ways to document the use of funds, so that the “uncompensated” or penalized amount could possibly be off-set by the fact that the funds were used for his father’s expenses (not gifted for Mr. L’s personal use). Medicaid Matters also gave information as to the types of documentation required so that Mr. L can begin keeping records that may be needed later should an application for Medicaid benefits be filed. Mr. L indicated that he would likely use Medicaid Matters’ Mentoring Services if needed in the future. The above cases are just some of the many wonderful clients that Medicaid Matters has had the privilege of helping make informed decisions about Medicaid and long term care. |