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Paying for a private assisted living home for my friend who is on Medicaid.  Will that void her benefits for other medical care? Her SO and I just won guardianship from her family. He can afford to move her to a private AL facility. Will they come after him to reimburse them for the 2 1/2 years she has been in the system? Just trying to figure out what to expect, and how to minimize the financial damage if possible. We don't really WANT her to stay on Medicaid, but don't want to be punished for stepping up to take care of her properly either. TIA!

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I think you have to be related.
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Yes, I will post the results of our meeting. I hope they don't attach her SS, but we are prepared for that. And I think if it came down to needing NH care, we would hire a live-in RN and buy a handicap accessible home. But we will cross that bridge if it comes! For now, we are focused on giving her some sort of quality of life. She has been so neglected over the last 2.5 years. I don't think she would even last another year if things were left the way they are right now. I just hope we aren't too late to turn things around.
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Folks go off of medicaid all the time. Like they move to another state or move from a facility back to live with family. The medicaid paid tally for her care is her debt. you probably just want to make sure she never ever has any assets that could be seized, attached or recoverable. So the $ paid for her stay is being paid by you/SO from your own bank account or guardianship acct; with you /SO never ever comingling your $ with hers.

You do want to make sure that she is fully clear on paying her SOC (share of cost) to the NH to the exact date she moves out & into private pay facility. now that you are her guardian, the current facility should give you copies of all her statements, contacts, etc from when she entered to her departure date. I'd get all of this just in case there is ever a future issue or if later on finances change and she needs to go back on Medicaid (so you have the documents submitted previously). You never know.....and if she should need to go into a higher level of care - like a NH - the costs can get staggering. Like double or more than an AL. What $eem$ affordable now may not always be....

Favor to ask of you.....if when you meet with an elder law atty., if it shakes down that the state wants to be reinbursed for costs paid and they attached her SS or other monthly income to do this, could you post this info? As a supercreditor, the state can attached income sources - like they do for child support- but I've never heard of the State doing this for elder care situations where the elder is impoverished.

You & SO deserve platinum hugs for doing guardianship& moving her!
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Thank you all! We will sit down with an attorney. Unfortunately the attorney who handled the guardianship case is not an expert in elder law. But we are so fortunate that the court agreed with us, over the family. Seldom happens! Can't wait to get her to a place that will be a 'home' and not just a bed.
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Her assets are separate from you and SO assets. If you were to put too much money in her name, then that could cause a problem. But echoing what has already been said, for peace of mind, contact a qualified attorney.
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If he is offering to pay for her care now, that shouldn't make him responsible for her past debt to Medicaid. Doesn't the responsibility still lay with her? If she begins the AL using private funds from any source wouldn't Medicaid then kick her off for any services from date she entered the SF and forward? I think you have an interesting issue. I hope you can pay for an AL facility for her.
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Yes Anne is correct you will be able to take her as dependant come tax time.
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What a wonderful thing you want to do. She needs to have medical coverage for things like medication hospital and doctors etc... unless you are going to pay for medicare supplement and medicare part d drug coverage then she should stay on medicaid for that coverage. She can move anytime you want and if her housing is paid directly to the new AL place and she never touches the money there should be no problems. It sounds like funds are not a problem for you so in your case a quick consult with an elder law attorney will ease your mind and answer all your questions. Check for elder law attorney in your state. Thank you for having such a big heart!
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I cannot answer your question but I am impressed with your willingness to increase her quality of care. Your best resource might be an attorney who is proficient in Medicaid. I have been down the red tape path and misinformation that you can get from a Medicaid office . You get way too many different answers . The one thing I would be certain to record is that the change is not as a result of any hidden assets.Will you not be signing her up again for Medicaid? Then in all likelihood her case will be closed and the Medicaid office should not be contacting you. And it does not sound as if she should be penalized as a result of a newly appointed guardian. I would also imagine your financial support would be considered some type of tax deduction for someone as she might be considered a dependent .
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