Medicare and Medicaid are sometimes confused; it’s important to understand that these programs are not the same. While Medicare serves all retirees over the age of 65 who paid into the Social Security system for a specified time period, Medicaid is the health program for individuals and families with low incomes and negligible resources. It is means-tested and jointly funded and administered by the states and federal government. Medicaid is the largest U.S. funding source for medical and health-related services for those with limited income.
If you qualify for Medicaid coverage, your benefits include some types of long-term care, home health care services for qualified individuals, and both inpatient and outpatient hospital services. That “if you qualify for Medicaid coverage” phrase is critically important. Medicaid planning is a strategy used to satisfy financial eligibility requirements. It is basically a legal way to restructure assets and income so that an individual or family can qualify for Medicaid long-term care assistance.
How It Works
Every individual or family’s circumstances are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Though each state varies somewhat in case treatment, there are several common factors taken into consideration:
- Marital status
- Home ownership
- Pension benefits or social security income
- Assets such as real estate, stocks and bonds, mineral interests, annuities and IRAs
- Appropriately drafted legal documents such as a will, power of attorney, living wills, trusts or other similar estate and disability planning
- Mental competency, i.e. the ability to change documents and handle asset
- Family support
- Urgency of required care
Based on the above factors, here are some of the legal methods to restructure your existing assets so you qualify for Medicaid assistance. However, do not attempt to do anything without the input and guidance of an experienced attorney who understands Medicaid rules and regulations:
- Convert assets that Medicaid considers countable to those it considers exempt or
- Convert an asset into an income
- Transfer assets to other persons in or outside of the
- Exercise provisions which allow a client to expand the amount of protected assets beyond statutory limits. This is called resource expansion.
