Long Term Care Planning
What is a Group Home?
A group home is a living accommodation option for people with disabilities. Living in a group home may be a good option for those individuals who do not need advanced medical care but cannot safely live alone. The care in a group home setting allows residents to receive extra support in a community setting without […]READ POST »
Medicaid’s Power to Recoup Benefits Paid: Estate Recovery and Liens
Federal law requires the state to attempt to recover the long-term care benefits from a Medicaid recipient’s estate after the recipient’s death. If steps aren’t taken to protect the Medicaid recipient’s house, it may need to be sold to settle the claim. For Medicaid recipients aged 55 or older, states must seek recovery of payments […]READ POST »
Protecting Your House After You Move into a Nursing Home
While you generally do not have to sell your home in order to qualify for Medicaid coverage of nursing home care, it is possible the state can file a claim against your house after you die, so you may want to take steps to protect your house. If you get help from Medicaid to pay […]READ POST »
How Do I File for a Guardianship?
No one wants to see a loved one become unable to make decisions for him or herself. If this happens, however, the court may appoint a substitute decision maker, often called a “guardian,” but in some states called a “conservator” or other term. A guardian is only appointed as a last resort if other, less […]READ POST »
How Can You Transfer a Guardianship Between States?
When an incapacitated person cannot make personal or financial decisions, state courts may appoint a guardian to assist the individual with determining where to live, what kind of care to receive, or how to manage finances. In some cases, guardians may wish to move their ward — someone whom a court has found need a […]READ POST »
Better Than No Loaf: Medicaid Planning Using “Half a Loaf” Strategies
While it is preferable to conduct long-term care planning well in advance of needing care, if you haven’t planned ahead, there are some strategies available to avoid spending all your assets. Three so-called “half a loaf” approaches allow a Medicaid applicant to give away some assets while still qualifying for Medicaid. In order to be […]READ POST »
Pros and Cons of a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is one option a person may consider to protect their assets from Medicaid and nursing homes or long-term care. A MAPT is an irrevocable trust created during your lifetime. The primary goal of a MAPT is to transfer assets to it so that Medicaid will not count these assets […]READ POST »
Protecting Spouses of Medicaid Applicants: 2023 Guidelines
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2023 federal guidelines for how much money the spouses of institutionalized Medicaid recipients may keep, as well as related Medicaid figures. What Are Spousal Impoverishment Rules? Spousal impoverishment is a concern for older couples when there is one spouse who requires long-term care and applies […]READ POST »
