It seems as if you avoid the hospital, you can avoid the social security check workers, and the adult property ppl.

A better option my be going to urgent care if absolutely necessary.

It seems that if medical care is absolutely necessary for older folks, a better option may be an "urgent care" type facility, thus avoiding the social (security) workers found in hospitals and adult property services.

It's a typo. I found the document that bld567 referenced. The correct amount is NOT $5,000,000. This is related to a program for Long Term Care Insurance that Colorado offers in partnership with private companies. From other commentary, the 2018 amount of equity exempt in home is more like $560,000 in Colorado. There may be some gaming the system, but pulling out money from home value within the 5 years will still be trackable and subject to the 5 year lookback and other asset limits. It's one of the reasons many states are now poking into family and other trusts.
colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/LTCPartnership%20Medicaid%20Producer%20Training%2005-20-2008.doc
There is a BIG DISCLAIMER AT TOP OF DOC.
DISCLAIMER
The purpose of this document is to provide a general overview of eligibility for Medicaid Long Term Care (LTC) in Colorado. It is intended to serve as a prerequisite to training required for insurance producers who sell, solicit or negotiate LTC Partnership (LTCP) insurance policies as part of the LTCP program in Colorado.
The document is not to be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid LTC services. Determining eligibility for Medicaid is the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) through the local County Department of Human Services (DHS) and Medical Assistance Sites (MAS). All Medicaid eligibility determinations shall be made only by local DHS offices and MASs. Producers should refer consumers to their local DHS office for assistance with Medicaid eligibility determinations.
The information in this document relates primarily to the rules to qualify for Medicaid LTC and the interface with the LTCP program. This document includes Medicaid eligibility rules and dollar limits that are correct at the time of publication. These rules and the dollar amounts change periodically.

Bld - regarding “home”, my understanding is that it’s 500-550k for most states EXCEPT for upper east coast states where it’s higher 700-850k. Just what the exact figure & is will depend on your states as each state runs its Medicaid program uniquely but within a overall federal guidelines.

I’ve been under the assumption that it’s all about property value. Like you submit as a part of the Medicaid application the current years tax collections bill which states what the tax assessor has property value pegged at & it’s verifiable as it should match info in statewide database. Latest Tax bill what was on the list of items required to accompany my mom’s application. I’d bet the stituation for most applicants - as most are widow or widower who own home - is that ownership & equity are the same.

BUT Now You’ve got me wondering if “value” is actually based on equity %! If so, omg this could be a way to game the system.... Not that that addresses your question.

I guessing typo in CO website. Someone owning outright a primary homestead worth 5M.... 5 Million!.... is not financially “at need”. They can borrow against the house to pay for care, or sell / rent house and pay for care. Someone who owns and lives in a 5M home isn’t apt to go onto Medicaid & into a NH with all the great unwashed. 5M, well me thinks someone was taking advantage of CO recreational drug laws when they should have been proofing copy in detail totally sober.

"However, if you are single and if your equity interest in your home exceeds $500,000, then your house will be counted, almost certainly causing you to be disqualified from Medicaid coverage." Are you sure it's $500,000 and not $5,000,000? The reason I ask is because there's a booklet called "Colorado Medicaid Long Term Care Services" on the Colorado.gov website that says a non-countable resource for Medicaid qualification purposes is, "One home (if there is intent to return and Equity Value is less than $5000,000 or if a spouse, dependent or disabled child lives in the home)." Which is correct? Did they just put an extra zero in there? Thanks. A reply would be much appreciated as my future hinges on this.

What if you're trying to get on Texas Medicaid but your home is in Louisiana (spouse still living there)? Is there any penalty because your residence isn't in Texas?

Kashi - Medicaid usually exempts the home if the Medicaid recipient has an "intent to return" to their home. Most states take that approach. There are a few states that don't or limit the home exemption for a set period of time. Medicaid is adminstered by each state under federal guidelines so how a state views property & homeowner rights makes a big difference. But if they keep the home, it will change from a Medicaid exempt asset to a non-exempt asset upon their death and there will be a MERP - Medicaid estate recovery claim or lien on the property to be dealt with by the executor of their estate in probate.

In theory, Medicaid cannot force your parents to sell the home. But what does happen, is since Medicaid requires that all of a NH resident to have their income (less their small $ 35 - 90 personal needs allowance per month) be their co-pay to the NH, that there is none of their $ to maintain the home. Since there is no $, the house gets sold and all the proceeds used to pay for their care. But if family wants to - for whatever reason - keep the parents house, they can but they have to pay for everything (taxes, insurance, utilties, repairs, etc) on the home and those costs may or may not be reimbursed from the estate after death. If there is a mortgage, it probably is totally unfeasible to do this. If reverse mortgage, then unless there is a spouse continuing to live in the home, the RM is due in full upon the move to the NH. So house gets sold in these situations. But really they cannot be forced to sell but you or other family have to come up with the funds & have the sense of humor to pay for all expenses for the possibly many, many years the elder is alive.

Why should Medicaid exempt my parent's house?

My Father-in-Law put their home into his sons name in 2010 and when we had to start applying for Medicaid for my Mother-in-Law (who has Alzheimers), in 2012, there was an article that advised that the home is exempt from being counted as an asset because their son LIVES there and the house is in his name in Trust, meaning that Mom & Dad are still the owners but once they pass, the house is his. Dad passed away in 2012 and Medicaid definitely does NOT consider the house an asset for Mom. This is in New York State. However, they do expect her to live on $790.00 a month as income, so anything over and above that that she receives in income, we have to pay to Medicaid...which equals out to $504.00 a month, AFTER we pay for her AARP and her Medicare Part A.... :( We do get to deduct any medical expenses but she is not on any medications so we are lucky to spend $100.00 a month on Depends & Poise Pads and things like that. It makes me sick that we have to "pay to have Medicaid" but we will do what we have to to make sure that she gets the care she needs and deserves in order to stay living IN HER HOME!

Seems to me that if an elderly parent has to go to assisted living/nursing home that all assets should go toward that care. My parents live on SS only and when the time comes when they can no longer live at home, their home certainly will be sold to go toward their care. I hear so many people talk about how they can keep Medicaid from taking their home or assets. Some people plan and sacrifice for their future and future care, if needed. Others do not and let the Government, i.e. (taxpayers) pay for their care. When I hear people trying to put their houses in their children's names, etc, I want to tell them that I don't want to pay for their care especially if they have resources! I really don't understand this. Therefore, it is fair that unless one spouse still needs to reside in the residence, then that residence needs to go toward their care.

my mom resides in California and is on medi medi and is in a skilled nursing home. Her monthly SSI ends the 30th of this month, but she may be able to return to her own home (with assistance) in a month or two. Without her monthly income she will lose her home she is renting. I saw somewhere a form (intent to return home) which funds payment for her rent up to six months. Does anyone know where I can find/file that form and how it works?

I am my Mother's POA and in NC I had to sign a form stating that my Mom has all intentions of returning home even though she has dementia. I had to request DSS let me sign that form. The state now has a lien on my mother's house. She has been on medicaid since October 2012

Alabama Medicaid law states that unless a spouse is residing in the home, the home is considered an asset and will therefore, disqualify for medicaid.