Usedup, the person is not poor yet nor on Medicaid yet. The question was if in the future should she need to be on Medicaid would spending $300 a month on gambling disqualify her because of the 5 year look back rule.
I am going to question the benefit of an assisted living facility taking residents to a casino in the first place. Yes, I know that is not what the poster asked. But there is generally no good news that happens at a casino. People enjoy going, I guess, but it is always in the hope of striking it rich. My mother is in a supportive living facility and I would really object to that kind of an outing. Yes, of course, people have a right to do what they want but for the facility to enable that seems ill-advised. If she has so little money that she will be needed to go to Medicaid in the future, seems like $3600 a year could be better spent.
I’m not sure that this is going to come out right but here goes...
In answering this question I think the fact that the money is being spent gambling at a casino is clouding and coloring the answers. Not all, of course- but definitely more than a few. This is just what she enjoys doing, evidently, for fun.
What if it had been $300 a month spent going to the movies? There is still nothing tangible to show for the money spent - just the fact that time was spent doing something she enjoys. But to make my point - what if they were “X Rated” movies? That’s bad but would “PG” be okay?
What if she spent $300 a month eating at the Ben & Jerry’s Icecream shop? Not okay? But if she spent the same money at Whole Foods on fancy, organic, imported fruit juices - would that be okay?
Some people enjoy going to the Casinos. And yes, I’m probably writing this because my hubby and I are two such people. Sometimes we make a long weekend of it and go to the casino located in a small town at the beach. Sometimes we just make a day of it and drive to the fancy, new casino about 30 minutes away - and eat lunch at the obnoxiously expensive Michael Jordan’s restaurant located in the casino... before we hit the slots.
Point being - we enjoy it and have a lot of fun. More fun when we win but still fun even when we loose. And contrary to a previous post - no, we don’t go “hoping to strike it rich” although if that should happen - that would probably be the most fun ever!
So, please try to put stereotypes and person bias aside. Us “gamblers” aren’t all frittering away the kiddies college funds and dodging the guy who’s trying to repossess our car.
Wow thank you !My mom and Aunt love to go the casino.. and hubs and I enjoy taking them. That the and dang hairdresser are about all Mom enjoys anymore, and the two of them can afford a few hours every so often. We also don't ever expect to get rich,, just to have a good time out and about. I think some people are a bit preachy about things they don't approve of.. and fine for them. I don't go to church 5 times a week, but I don't judge those who do.
She won’t be able to afford $300 gambling trips once she is on Medicaid in an assisted living. Yes Medicaid may question all the $300 withdrawls but you might want to run the question by an eligibility worker at the Medicaid office. She can live her life And spend her money before going in Medicaid. Medicaid likely won’t frown upon the $300 transactions because she wasn’t just gifting her money away. I mean she was gifting it to the casino LOL (unless she was winning more than she put in). But I mean she’s allowed to spend her money on entertainment and gambling and travel, she just can’t go giving away large amounts. If she wins money, she’ll have to report the income to Medicaid. She won’t have to turn it over to them, she will just lose her eligibility until the money has been spent down on her care. And it doesn’t take winning much to get kicked off Medicaid. Some states will kick you off if you win $1,000.
I don’t mean to be mean but if she has $300 to spend gambling a month, honestly she should not be eligible for Medicaid. It is for people who do not have money. If she is eligible more than likely that amount of money will be counted as income. Not sure because it’s been years since I’ve had anything to do with figuring out anything about Medicaid. I worked in the field of Social Work for over 25 years and the people I saw on Medicaid were very broke and were lucky to have enough food much less money to gamble.
Let’s not forget though that those who do have money help fund Medicaid and other entitlement programs while those without money, do not. So is it really necessary to judge those who pay for it when they want to use it?
I could be way off, and we do have people here very well versed in Medicaid do’s and don’ts, but I believe you are allowed to have a certain amount in assets to your name and what you do with it is up to you. However, if Mom should hit on a machine or at a table, she will have to turn over the money to Medicaid, I think.
It depends on the Medicaid. Insurance verses care. I was assuming OP meant her Mom would need Medicaid in future to help pay for the AL. In that instance, Mom is only allowed 2k (in my state) in assets. Those can only be used toward things she needs. Once a year u have to send in bank acct records. They will question an amt of 300 going out monthly. Really, why would someone feel they can still gamble when the state is paying for their care.
She can have $2000 when she goes on Medicaid, and assisted living will let her keep $90 a month, at least in IL. Frittering the money away will not disqualify her.
First, forget anyone who knocks you about trips to a casino. It’s one of the few things left my mom enjoys, and we take her. If she enjoyed movies, we would take her there. If she enjoyed water skiing, we would take her to do that. Life is too short, especially for them, so why not enjoy as much as possible!
Since it sounds like your mom is not on Medicaid yet, I strongly urge you to go see an elder attorney. They can walk you through setting up a trust for your mom, which is so eye opening to what you can and can’t do ... and how to move funds so that there is money for her to have for spending, and money to reimburse you as needed ... and you can make requests for the funds for large ticket items, such as a wheelchair or whatever from the trust as needed.
When will people understand that Medicaid is not an entitlement? It is government assistance for people who are indigent. That means they have LITTLE TO NO MONEY to spend on their care and expenses.
A person on Medicare is required to have less than $2313 a month in income, anything over that is expected to go to pay for your care. Any asserts they own are expected to be sold and/or used to pay for nursing home or at home care. If there is a spouse living in the family home it is exempted plus about $23,000 in assets to support that spouse.
So if you can figure out how an elderly person can live on $2013 a month to allow for $300 to waste at a casino go for it.
Actually the amount of assets the spouse can have is not $23000. The amount depends on the state you live in. If one spouse is applying, in the OPs state they can keep half the assets up to a maximum of $126,000. Some states such as NY allow a single person to have $15k cash in the bank.
Let us not forget those who fund government assistance are the tax payers. If they fund it, they should get to use it. Just my opinion though.
I’m gonna reply to my reply replies here as I think it might get lost otherwise...
TXGirl - Worried has it right. I don’t think the OP has an issue with the casino - its some of the replies that appear to.
As Worried states - there are all sorts of habits, hobbies and other forms of entertainment - even eating at restaurants - that can easily get to $300 a month in the blink of an eye.
While some may frown at my trips to a casino - I, in turn have to shake my head at “scrap-booking” and the zillion dollar industry that has become. Of course, one does have a stash of hand-stamped, ribboned homemade greeting cards to show for it. But personally... I’d rather watch paint dry.
Anyhoo... just saying in approaching an answer to this particular post and question - rather than thinking of an answer as it relates to casinos and gambling - perhaps just generalizing it as “entertainment” dollars spent may provide better answers.
In answering this question I think the fact that the money is being spent gambling at a casino is clouding and coloring the answers. Not all, of course- but definitely more than a few. This is just what she enjoys doing, evidently, for fun.
What if it had been $300 a month spent going to the movies? There is still nothing tangible to show for the money spent - just the fact that time was spent doing something she enjoys. But to make my point - what if they were “X Rated” movies? That’s bad but would “PG” be okay?
What if she spent $300 a month eating at the Ben & Jerry’s Icecream shop? Not okay? But if she spent the same money at Whole Foods on fancy, organic, imported fruit juices - would that be okay?
Some people enjoy going to the Casinos. And yes, I’m probably writing this because my hubby and I are two such people. Sometimes we make a long weekend of it and go to the casino located in a small town at the beach. Sometimes we just make a day of it and drive to the fancy, new casino about 30 minutes away - and eat lunch at the obnoxiously expensive Michael Jordan’s restaurant located in the casino... before we hit the slots.
Point being - we enjoy it and have a lot of fun. More fun when we win but still fun even when we loose. And contrary to a previous post - no, we don’t go “hoping to strike it rich”
although if that should happen - that would probably be the most fun ever!
So, please try to put stereotypes and person bias aside. Us “gamblers” aren’t all frittering away the kiddies college funds and dodging the guy who’s trying to repossess our car.
Since it sounds like your mom is not on Medicaid yet, I strongly urge you to go see an elder attorney. They can walk you through setting up a trust for your mom, which is so eye opening to what you can and can’t do ... and how to move funds so that there is money for her to have for spending, and money to reimburse you as needed ... and you can make requests for the funds for large ticket items, such as a wheelchair or whatever from the trust as needed.
Good luck!
A person on Medicare is required to have less than $2313 a month in income, anything over that is expected to go to pay for your care. Any asserts they own are expected to be sold and/or used to pay for nursing home or at home care. If there is a spouse living in the family home it is exempted plus about $23,000 in assets to support that spouse.
So if you can figure out how an elderly person can live on $2013 a month to allow for $300 to waste at a casino go for it.
Let us not forget those who fund government assistance are the tax payers. If they fund it, they should get to use it. Just my opinion though.
TXGirl - Worried has it right. I don’t think the OP has an issue with the casino - its some of the replies that appear to.
As Worried states - there are all
sorts of habits, hobbies and other forms of entertainment - even eating at restaurants - that can easily get to $300 a month in the blink of an eye.
While some may frown at my trips to a casino - I, in turn have to shake my head at “scrap-booking” and the zillion dollar industry that has become. Of course, one does have a stash of hand-stamped, ribboned homemade greeting cards to show for it. But personally... I’d rather watch paint dry.
Anyhoo... just saying in approaching an answer to this particular post and question - rather than thinking of an answer as it relates to casinos and gambling - perhaps just generalizing it as “entertainment” dollars spent may provide better answers.
But, whatever... I try not to judge.
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