Medicaid Planning for Long-Term Care

Here's an explanation of Medicaid's rules on eligibility for nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care.

Medicaid does not require a healthy spouse to give up all of her income and property just so the needy spouse can qualify for care.

Medicaid in some states pays for services to allow elderly or disabled individuals to stay in their own homes.

Community First Choice offers home health care without the limitations of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver.

While Medicaid finances most long-term care in this country, Medicaid is supposed to be "the payer of last resort" when it comes to long-term care.

Many individuals who apply for Medicaid find that they have too many assets to qualify.

When one spouse has to go into a nursing home, couples can save assets from Medicaid by purchasing an immediate annuity.

If Medicaid pays for nursing home care, the state can try to collect reimbursement for these costs after the death of the Medicaid recipient.

If Medi-Cal pays your long-term care expenses, the State of California might try to collect the costs from your estate after you die.

If Texas Medicaid pays for your long-term care after you turn 55, the state can try to recover the costs from your estate after you pass away.

If you receive Medicaid in Florida after turning 55, the state might try to recover those costs from your estate after your death.

If you're 55 or older and receive Medicaid in New York, the state might seek reimbursement of the costs from your estate.

If you live in Nevada and you've received Medicaid to pay for certain services during your life, Nevada's Medicaid Program will attempt to recover some costs from your estate when you die.

The state of Alaska might or might not seek reimbursement for the Medicaid you received, depending on whether your estate goes through probate and how much it's worth.

If you receive Medicaid services in Alabama, the state might seek reimbursement from your estate after you die.

Long-term care like nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care are expensive, and private health insurance policies generally do not cover those services.

Illinois' Medicaid program pays for nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care services for many Illinoisans.

If you are a New York resident, Medicaid may pay for your stay in an assisted living facility that qualifies as an Assisted Living Program.

Through Medicaid, Ohio will pay some of the costs of assisted living and home health care for those who qualify for Medicaid long-term care.

Texas Medicaid will pay for a nursing home, assisted living, or home health care when a patient needs skilled nursing care.

When a spouse faces the need for nursing home care, the couple should consider retitling assets to prepare for Medicaid eligibility. This article explores how and why assets should be retitled.

Medicaid will pay for nursing home care only for those with limited assets and will penalize those who give away assets to qualify for Medicaid.

While Medicaid finances most long-term care in this country, Medicaid is supposed to be "the payer of last resort" when it comes to long-term care.

Most trusts, even irrevocable ones, won’t work to qualify a person for Medicaid.

Special needs trusts can be very useful to disabled individuals who have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid.

An applicant who has more resources than are allowed by Medicaid can use a self-settled special needs trust to become eligible for Medicaid.