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Mom is 92 and in AL. She has dementia, but seems to get along just fine with the assistance she's provided there. I've heard in this forum that she would not qualify for Medicaid (MediCal, we're in California, if that matters) if her cash assets exceed $2K for 5 years. At her facility, there's a NH wing with rooms reserved for Medicaid patients that are much nicer than the regular ones (she had to stay in the NH when she had shingles, and it really was a dismal place - functional, clean, and well staffed, but dismal). This seems really weird, right? Anyway, if she gets to where she needs more help, she'll go to the NH wing. If she would benefit there by being on Medicaid, should I be keeping her accounts below that $2K limit to start the 5 year lookback? Realistically, I don't expect her to live another 5 years, but in case she does, and this would help her, I'm wondering if I should figure out ways to do that.

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When my Mom applied for Medicaid she had about 20k in her acct. I private paid for 2 months in a NH bringing her down to under the 2k spend down NJ allows. I had 90 days from date of applying to get Mom to 2k, choose an NH for her, and get them all the info they needed. If not done in that time frame I would have had to start all over.

You already have Mom in an AL with medicaid beds. Now you watch her money. Medicaid allows prepaying for a funeral. Does Mom have life insurance with a cash value that she owns? I wouldn't do it now, but Medicaid requires that to be cashed for her care. When Mom gets down to where she only has 6 months left for her care in an AL, start talking to the Administrator at the facility. If done right, Mom should be able to transition from private pay to Medicaid with no problem. Just do not wait till the last minute.
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Kittybee Apr 2019
Oh wow, I didn't know about life insurance! Yes, I've been meaning to talk to the admin (now just have to figure out who that is - their staffing and org is rather opaque, though again - they do a good job caring for the residents...). Thank you!
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Medi-cal’s look back period is 2.5 years not 5 years. And her bank account does not have to be at $2,000 or less during the lookback period. $2,000 is the maximum amount she can have when her eligibility is determined.
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Kittybee Apr 2019
Oh boy, I really had the wrong end of the stick here. Thank you for this - I'll check it all out.
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Kitty, Medicaid has a 5 year look back on gifting of money, houses and other assets. At the time mom applies for Medicaid, she will be asked for 5 years of banking statements so that Medicaid can see how her money was spent.

Her bank account does not have to be 2k for 5 years as far as I know.

Go to the MediCal site and read the regs.
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Kittybee Apr 2019
Thanks, Barb - I did go to the site but it's overwhelming! I guess I'm kind of copping out by asking here, but mostly I wanted a general sense of things that I wouldn't be able to get unless I spend hours reading the whole website. Thanks for your info.
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