If I go to an Elder lawyer or another professional for help with planning for the 5 year look back would this fee be eligible for the spend-down?

Help - I filled out all the paperwork for Medicaid (mom - 90y.o. Stage 3 Dementia - just went into SNF). Took me 4 months - sent all info (Application, 5 year look back, etc. Pile of papers was 1 foot high). Almost completely spent down to the $15k we were told to. Financial person at SNF handling it is a nasty person, who never returned my calls. I live in Texas - mom is in NY - brother lives 10 minutes away- doesn't care about my mom or me, but visits her once a week with his wife and dog. I handle all paperwork, phone calls, doctors, etc. We fly up when we can (I am disabled from auto accident since 2008). Here in NY now to get mom moved from her senior apartment w/ CNAs 24/7 into this SNF. Met with the nasty woman, Michelle, in the Business office. We have to pay $14k the first month or they wouldn't admit her as Medicaid pending for month 2. Michelle wants to send in Medicaid package NOW. I said we didn't spend down to $15k yet. I still have the last payroll check for all CNAs and mom has an $1800 Amex bill. *** So Michelle says: "Oh, she won't have to pay the Amex bill. When patients go into a SNF Medicaid pending, their attending physician will send a letter to Amex, explaining the situation, and Amex will forgive the bill."*** IS THIS TRUE?! I never heard this before in my life. And why didn't she mention this earlier? My husband has worked in Nursing homes as an Executive Housekeeping Dir. for 35 years- never heard of this. P.S. Michelle 'misplaced' my mom's SS Award letter - which I attached to her SSA-1099 form, then blamed it on her supervisor, needless to say, this woman is not very competent. Anyone ever here this? Also: if she sends the package to Medicaid now, will I still be able to send the last bank statement, which is much less than the one I included in the package to Michelle 2 months ago? Thank you. I didn't know who to ask. Feel like I'm not getting the whole truth. I feel like once they get our out-of-pocket $14k for the first month, this woman will blow our chance to get Medicaid and they'll kick my mother out! And one last question - once mom is on Medicaid, I can cancel her Medicare Supplemental health insurance and her Rx plan, right? If she is being treated in the SNF, and on Medicaid, why would she need that? Thank you in advance for your help.

My husband and his sister own a house together but only she lives there now. Also, they just put his son's name on the deed to the house. How will this affect them if he or his sister have to go into a home? He lives in my house but we did a prenup before marriage so I hope my assets are safe from any medical he incurs. My mom and I went 4 years ago to an elder lawyer and put her house and money into a trust so I think we are safe with hers.

This article is super old. New information is out there and you should be looking at rules in your own state.

cprjmr You're thinking of Medicare, and it is the requirement to go into a skilled nursing facility (max stay of a few months). Has nothing to do with Medicaid.

Oh, my god. Wonderful of U to post this. Been trying to put my mother in home but keep running into the same problem. Guess it is time 4 an elder lawyer.

Penager - ths article is super old......from 2008! Your going to get answers if you repost yours as a brand new ? under money & legal.

Your article mentions your uncle, as the well-spouse, was able to retain his own retirement accounts. I was under the impression that the well-spouse's own retirement accounts must be spent-down. I'm wondering if this was a state-specific rule?

Do I have to spend the cash value of life insurance if I cancel the policy. I am not over the monthly income for the elderly waver.

how do i spend down mom"s money, to get her on medicad . i am on her will ad my sister, i am poa?

Difficult to understand

Muddling through all the paperwork and getting one different answer after another on how my Dad should spend down six life insurance polcies..I get one different answer after another. First I was told that he could spend it on anything personal, which we planned to spend on his moving expenses, plastic boxes to put his belongings into; the costs of postage to send all the things to send everything in to cash in his life policies and his stock policies by Certified Mail; the amount of money it cost us to make copies of everything (went through one brand new black cartridge and a ream of paper just making copies of all his life policies!!)

My dad just had a new great grandson so he spent some money on him also. I consider that personal.

He also needs a new mattress since the one he has is full of urine after he accidently spilled his urinal.

I've been told by one source that as long as it's personal..it's ok.

Then another source told me that it has to ONLY deal with his nursing home needs as he's a resident there now. However..his residency became official about two weeks ago when Medicare wouldn't pay anymore.

I'm tired of the run around and just want to spend his life policies down on things he needs, which the social worker at the place he's staying at says was just fine.

However..she didn't know that you needed to pay for Part A and B Medicare in order for Network Insurance to be my dad's Advantage policy. That they take out of your Social Security.

Not sure who to believe anymore and if I'm going to have to spend down a lot of money regarding my parent's life policies..I would like some sort of guidelines.

The last thing I want is for Dad to be completely broke while he thought we followed all the rules..and Medicaid denies him.

An additon worry I have is that we bought my Dad's house three years ago. Talking to the specialist, she told me that was certainly divesting and he probably wouldn't be approved for Medicaid. She made a phone call and found out that since we paid full value for the price of his house..we shouldn't have a problem and they'd take the money we paid..along with the interest.

I hate that there are no classes for things like this. When we find oursevelves into situations like this..we just have to muddle through and guess. It stinks that there is nobody out there that will give you a straight answer!!

So sick and tired fo it all!!

And thanks for listening and letting me vent. Love you guys~!!

What is the procedure if the patient has income per month over 2,000 but no other inelligible asset?

My dad's spend down is $1,700 a month but after paying rent and utilities, cable, phone, loan payment, car insurance and credit cards he would be $204 short - I mean what is he supposed to do stop paying some bills? And how would he buy food - just his bills are $1243 a month...that doesn't include a food budget...

It has everything to do with what state you live in and the Medicaid criteria. For those that are new and looking for "strategy suggestions" to either qualify for medicaid, veterans benefits, reverse mortgage or a combination of them.

This system sucks even more when people are younger. My husband's stroke happened at age 59. We are now 67 and limping along for 8 years now. I am keeping him at home with minimal paid help. I retired at age 65. To get enough help, I would quickly deplete our life's savings. Then I am facing very bleak number of years if I use the Medicaid system. Two professionals who worked all their lives should be able to make this work. I have been am extremely frustrated for years. The future does not look good. chris

We live in California and just met with our local Elder Care lawyer. He said that he could spend down our surplus assets in 8 days (transfering money to our son). And Medical now allows $2700 plus per month for me. Most of these comments are way out of date and/or from other states.

A BRODA Wheelchair is the best piece of equipment that you can spend Medicaid Spend down money on. It will literally be the last chair that you have to buy for a loved one. seatingisbelieving

My mom is 87years old with no income , assets except she is receiving medicare and medicaid .She has some dementia , difficulty walking , incontinence and requires twenty four hours care which we are unable to provide . Is my mom qualify for long term care ?

I've recently gone through this for my parents and did surprisingly well for them. In our state, NJ, we were told that my father, who was being put into a nursing home, could keep $4k and my mom, who still lives at their home, could keep ~$23k, plus retain ALL of their income (about $3k per month), while Medicaid would pick up 100% of my father's care cost. The only thing my mother has to pay for is a $35. per month living stipend for my father. We were shocked at the outcome, as the "spend down" process for them amounted to a simple, single payment of about $4500 against an outstanding credit card bill.

The dilema were facing now, and the question I need to get answered, is that my mother is now living more cost effectively and is saving about $500. per month and will soon be up against the asset ceiling and needs to spend money in order to get under the ceiling. My question (for anyone who may know the answer): The Medicaid application is completed and the money is settled for my mother, but what can she spend that money on now? Can you give it to her kids & grandkids? Can she at least be generous at Christmas time for gift giving? She'd like to give everyone about $200. each for Christmas, and that would be about $3k total for her 15 kids/grandkids. Would this ok to do?

You need to go to your county's department of social services not social security and tell them what you have posted here. That is what I did when I knew I was going to have to move my mom to my county. They will tell you how much you and your husband can have in assets and what an asset is. Also if you have any family members you can go on line and look at what you have to do to get him qualified. Take that first step and go and talk to someone.

I have not found one assisted living facility in my area (Howard County MD) for under $3,000 a month. I cannot believe every resident pays that ! if so, how? I work only part time and we have only SS no other $ and no equity in our house. I need a place for my husband who has dementia then a place for myself that won't cost me a fortune. I've applied for his VA benefits and getting no where w/that. I cannot get answers anywhere. I am incredibly depressed.

not in nc...my mom paid out of pocket for 3 months until she only had 2000 and then I applied. go to your medicaid office and speak with them. since you are married the rules are different. my mom was divorced

I thought the person had to spend 3 days in hospital then a rehab before getting medicaid. I am in Maryland and this is info I've been given. I cannot afford assisted living for my husband but can't care for him anymore either.

I qualified my Mom last year and it was one of the most heart wrenching things I have ever done. But I had to to get her into a very nice Assisted Living Facility because she has dementia, was not eating and had lost 30 lbs. I traveled about 50 miles every other day to try and take care of her but to no avail. In North Carolina you can have $2000.00 in assets but it has to be at the end of the month to qualify and then you apply the 1st of the next month. She still had her house and I had to request a form stating that "she had intentions of returning to her house" and the state now has a lien on my mother's estate. Thank the Lord I was POA but that was another nightmare but I got it done. You are allowed to purchase a Non revocable Burial Contract and that was the big expense I used to get her money down. I moved her into a facility in July, spent her money down, applied in October and was approved in November.

I'm seeing a lot of questions on here but not many anwers. I think most of us have the question, not the answer. From what I have read, it sounds like the best bet is hiring a lawyer so everything is done correctly. My aunt lost her home and even her car because she had to go into a nursing home. They got everything she owed. So everyone needs to prepare things so this doesn't happen to them.

My husband, 86 yeas old,ran up almost $50,000 in medical bills for which he had no insurance coverage except Medicare A, and non service connected VA. He is now on Medi-cal and in a snf. Medi-cal says I am responsible for his bills prior to 1/12, even though I earned most of our assets and his bills take most of my savings, leaving me with enough income to exist on, but nothing for emergencies or niceties such as vacations or home repairs. Everything is now in a trust in my name---however I am concerned that when I need to have a reverse mortgage or sell my home, I will find that Medi-cal has a lien on it. I have Parkinson's disease, and so the prospect of needing in home help in the future is a reality.

TY for your responses. There is a huge difference between the 2 states spend downs -NY is $14,000. NJ is $2000. ... and NH care is quite different in price structure - $$130,000. a year vs $ 240,000. (of course the place and location of NH makes a difference.... it is the care we are concerned about)
We still are not sure if Medicaid is the way to go so we are applying for VA Spousal benefits as my Dad served honorably.
We feel it is better to have mom close to us MILEAGE wise so we are not shuffling between 2 states with tremendous traffic problems...and we will be able to share more family and holiday time together.
It's the logistics and learning curves that are slowing us down.
You have all been a great help....

To answer the question how do you spend down hire home care to take care of her at home or she can be placed medicaide pending and self pay to begin with-at about 500 dollars a day for nursing homes her extra money will be used up fast and the social workers will do the legwork for the application because they want the NH to get paid as fast as they can and fill up beds-because most NH's now have to accept rehab pt's to fill beds and the average stay is only 30 days and they have to have more PT staff with rehab pt's.

How long does a Medicaid application take to be accepted?
Am I in for a rash of questions and extra paperwork after the application?
Mom is NOT sure she is going on Medicaid....do we fill out the application anyway and have it ready , just in case?
NJ is 2000. - 4000 spend down, NY is 14,000. what if I move mom to NY will that be a problem with NY acceptance or is it reciprical?