As we age, it’s common to worry about the cost of long-term care, especially when you have limited resources or assets. Fortunately, Medicaid, a government-run program, is designed to aid those who need long-term care and cannot afford it. However, there are many misconceptions surrounding Medicaid, including the belief that you need to spend all of your money on care before qualifying for free aid. In this blog post, we’ll review everything you need to know about Medicaid and how to be eligible for long-term care at home.
Eligibility Limits
Medicaid was initially established to pay for long-term care for everyone in need, but with the aging population in the US, the cost of healthcare keeps increasing. As a result, the government had to limit how much money people could have to be eligible for Medicaid services. There are income and asset limits required to receive benefits. However, under New York law, you can still become eligible for Medicaid regardless of the amount of assets or income you have if you follow the proper planning.
New York Long-Term Care
In New York, there are two types of long-term care Medicaid. One is nursing home Medicaid, for which there is a five-year look-back period. This means you must transfer your assets into a trust before requiring care. The government pays for the nursing home care once the five years have passed.
The other type of Medicaid is Community Medicaid, which covers home health care, personal care, and other services. To become eligible for Community Medicaid, you must meet the asset and income limits. However, you can work with experts like elder law and estate planning attorneys to protect your assets and qualify for Community Medicaid.
Start Planning to Qualify for Long-Term Care Medicaid
When you start planning to qualify for long-term care Medicaid, it’s essential to act quickly because New York is considering extending the look-back period for home care to 18 months or more starting next year. This means you must protect your assets before this new law goes into effect to qualify for Medicaid benefits without losing all your assets.
Moreover, many misconceptions about Medicaid prevent people from seeking long-term care benefits. One big myth is that Medicaid is only for poor people. On the contrary, you might qualify for Medicaid even if you own a home, a car, or other assets. Another myth is that you must sell your home or assets before qualifying for Medicaid, but this is not true either.
Long-term care can be a considerable expense for seniors and their families. Fortunately, Medicaid is a government-run program that provides aid to those who require long-term care and cannot afford it. Qualification for Medicaid can be complicated and involves income and asset limits. However, with the right planning, you can still qualify for Medicaid even with substantial assets or income. In New York, there are two types of Medicaid, nursing home Medicaid, and Community Medicaid, which you might be eligible for depending on your assets and income. To qualify for Medicaid benefits without losing all your assets, work with experts like elder law and estate planning attorneys.
Contact Experienced Long-Term Care Planning Attorneys for Help
Do you want to protect your assets for your family and loved ones? Do you have questions about elder law and estate planning? Our law firm, the Law Offices of Patricia G. Micek, Esq., can help. Please call 914-358-4235 or use our convenient e-mail form.