How do you navigate applying for Medicaid?

Depends on how much your state has opened up if you can get an appt. In my area its all done over the phone or on-line. I sat with Moms caseworker and he took me through the whole application. I brought everything with me concerning Mom. Thanks to members on this forum who gave me an idea what was going to happen. I did have a lawyer because there was some question about my disabled nephew being able to continue to live there. And the Market Value of the house. The longer it sat there, the more problems arose. I refused to put my money into it to fix it up.

Mom only had a house, not worth much, and about $20k left. That 20k was used to private pay the NH for 2 months and then Medicaid took over.

Each State is different in the caps need. You can go on line and research for your State.

Filling out the app itself is not that strenuous if one has simple assets, like a house and a car and some money in a checking account (like SS deposits). But in some states, like mine, the application "look back" period is 5 years. I agree that a consult with an experienced elder law attorney may be money well spent to make sure you qualify now or prepare to qualify for the near future.

A good friend used a lawyer who specialized in elder care after her husband suffered a serious stroke. Their finances were impacted but greatly because they had lived with too much debt. He could no longer work and she needed to continue her full time job. The lawyer was very helpful and the husband was accepted as a Medicaid recipient with full time help for him in their house. It is money wisely spent and likely could not be kept within the Medicaid system as there is a spend down. This should all be explained to you. Just be sure to hire a lawyer who deals with elder care issues. Most lawyers who deal with other types of law can recommend ones to you.

Have you looked over the application? The most difficult part is if you have assets and need paperwork with proof of them. There should be people at your local county human services that can assist with filling it out if you call and ask.