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I qualified for MA as of Jan 1, 2014 and as I turn 65 in Dec, am now in a transition to Medicare still needing assistance with low income status. MA ended 11.30.14 and Medicare started 12.1.14. I had some unemployment that disqualified me for SNAP and help with Medicare for months of Nov and Dec. So I have to refill out the paperwork for medical, snap and QMB status with Medicare after Dec 29th to get help again. Can I sell my car before that date and use it for funeral & burial policy, or utilities up front (I rent) cable, dental Chiro treatments that are not allowed as not enough pain qualification etc. I understand if I give it to my kids, I will be penalized should I go into long term care, and if I sell it, money in bank can work against me as well
I rent, am managing myself at this time. Live in Anoka, MN. Have bilateral spinal stenosis on the cervical and some thoracic that Chiro was able to give me 12 treatments under MA until I just turned 65 this month and it has ended to be transferred to Medicare. After 12 treatments, they rejected further as I do not have severe pain..but do have numerous neurological issues with it. My income is extremely low due to no work and low Soc Sec early retirement as well. Can't afford gas or car insurance and can't give car to kids.

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Again thanks for all your input...will be checking out the lump sum waiver with my county rep and see how that works...but suspect, as is very complicated, still will affect me with a penalty for long term or something down the road. Spend down needs to be clarified in this case.
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Re GabrielHeiser said exchanging one exempt asset for another didn't make sense....if someone prepays their funeral/burial, that helps the family/survivors financially since they won't be burdened with those bills at a time they might overspend on it. Also a car depreciates and if not insured it could be stolen or damaged and that asset is gone or reduced in value. So it does make sense to help the kids out by exchanging a non-used asset for another which will be used and much appreciated when the time comes.
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Talk to someone at Aging Services who can help you decide what to do. If you can still drive, or have someone drive you, keep your car. If you need to get rid of excess money (it doesn't sound like you need to) buy an assisted recliner, a tv, something you can keep for a long time and use if you need to downsize to a nursing home type of place.
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Sorry folks, I was talking about my co-pay with Medicare picking up about $34 and my cost $8.10. Since Tricare for Life does not cover chiropractic care, I have to pay that $8.10, however, my bones are too brittle for anymore treatments.
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Ref MR Heiser's response: I've just realized my initial question was typed resubmit for Medicare, not Medicaid! I have very low income, and my county rep said if I gave my car away to kids, it would penalize me if I go into a long term care down the road. I am not in a nursing home at this time. I simply won't be able to afford the insurance and gas once my unemployment income ends this month. Seems a shame to just let the car sit unused, when income from it could help pay off repair and other bills.
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Thank you for your input ladies. It certainly is a complex and changing process. I will not drive my car without insurance, be assured. In the days ahead, I will be checking these out one by one..chiro, etc. Your comments have given me a clearer picture of all this and helping in decisions that will have to be made.
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Yes, you can sell the car and put the proceeds into a funeral/burial policy, but the car is an exempt asset regardless of its value, so I don't see the reason for doing that. You'd be exchanging one exempt asset for another, and then you'd have no car.
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Medicare paid my mother's chiropractor about $24. We now see a chiropractor who only charges $20 and doesn't take insurance assignments. He is excellent, but he doesn't have staff to fill out paperwork. I don't know why they paid that much when Ferris only could get $8.10. It's been a while since she turned chiropractic in to medicare so I'm not sure if the amount has been reduced. At one time she had to have annual Xrays to qualify. They are changing all the time. $20 seems cheap enough to me if you can find a good chiropractor who will work with you on the balance. With mine, I have to fill out the paperwork myself, so I don't bother. It's not worth the $20 to me because I'm still working. I just pay my mother's out of pocket (her pocket) as well so I may not be up on the latest payment qualifications.
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Medicare's cost for chiropractic care is $8.10, and I have similar issues with my spine, so I know the costs. Each year the deductible starts new. Driving a car without insurance is dangerous for you and for the people you may kill.
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You sound as if you will still be on Medicaid in addition to Medicare. If you sell your car, you have to report the income to Medicaid and they decide if you need to spend it down. Spending it down on dental & chiro should be allowable. Cable, probably not. Advance rent, probably not.
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