The following the committe report for the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (MCCA): The leading cause of financial catastrophe among the elderly is the need for long-term care, especially the need for nursing home placement. The expense of nursing home care–which can range from $2,000 to $3,000 per month or more–has the potential for […]
While nursing home bills accrue, the healthy or well spouse, known as the “Community Spouse,” [Note 1] struggles to identify and keep income and resources that are necessary to support herself. [Note 2]. To remedy this situation, Congress enacted spousal impoverishment provisions as part of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (“MCCA”). [Note 3]. […]
If you agree to file a client’s Medicaid application as part of your representation, here are a few practical considerations. Keep in mind, these suggestions are how we handle matters in our office. If you have a different approach, that’s fine. If you have suggestions on other ways to approach applications, we’d love to hear […]
In States where Medicaid disability determinations are performed by the Social Security Administration, the eligibility rules cannot be more restrictive than the SSI eligibility Rules. Section 1902(r)(2) [42 U.S.C. § 1396a] indicates a State’s Medicaid eligibility criteria can be no more restrictive than the SSI program. Specifically it states: (2) (A) The methodology to be employed […]
Medicaid beneficiaries cannot “fix” eligibility by giving away resources. A transfer of resources without receipt of fair market value will trigger calculation of a transfer penalty. “The penalty for an institutionalized individual consists of ineligibility for certain services for a period or periods of ineligibility that equal the number of months calculated by taking the […]
As with the income rules, the resource defaults may be changed. First, if all of the Applicant’s income has been diverted to the Community Spouse and the monthly income available to the Community Spouse still does not reach the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, then 42 U.S. Code § 1396r–5(e)(2)(C) provides an administrative remedy for […]
A Community Spouse is entitled to a resource allowance in addition to the income allowance. 42 U.S. Code § 1396r–5(f)(1) and (2) provide: (1) In general An institutionalized spouse may, without regard to section 1396p(c)(1) of this title, transfer an amount equal to the community spouse resource allowance (as defined in paragraph (2)), but only […]
The SSI regulations describe deeming as the process of considering another person’s income or resources to be your own. See 20 CFR § 416.1160 (income) and 20 CFR § 416.1202 (Resources). Prior to the time Medicaid is approved, all marital resources are deemed available to the Applicant. See 42 U.S. Code § 1396r–5(c)(2)(A). However, 42 […]
As a general rule, all countable resources owned by the Institutionalized Spouse are considered available to pay his or her nursing home bills. It does not matter whether the resource is co-owned with someone else unless co-ownership makes it impossible to liquidate the resource. Georgia ABD Manual § 2300 states that resources include cash, other […]
One strategy used when planning for Medicaid eligibility is called “spousal refusal.” It is authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(c)(3). There, the federal statute provides: (3) Assignment of support rights The institutionalized spouse shall not be ineligible by reason of resources determined under paragraph (2) to be available for the cost of care where— (A) the […]
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