In this Chapter, we’re addressing protections for the Community Spouse of an Institutionalized Spouse. The term ”institutionalized spouse” means an individual who – (A) is in a medical institution or nursing facility or who (at the option of the State) is described in section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VI) of this title, and (B) is married to a spouse who is not in a medical institution or nursing facility; but does not include any such individual who is not likely to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) for at least 30 consecutive days. 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(h)(1). The term ”community spouse” means the spouse of an institutionalized spouse. 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(h)(2).
We will not address specific planning strategies in this Chapter as those will be covered later.
- Opening Comments regarding the Medicaid Community Spouse
- MCCA’s Legislative History
- Protecting Resources for the Community Spouse
- Transfer Penalties and the Community Spouse
- Potential Redetermination When Moving to a New State
- Protecting Income for the Community Spouse
- Post-Eligibility Treatment of the Institutional Spouse’s Income
- Seeking Adjustments to the CSRA or MMMNA
- Divorce and the Community Spouse
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2023 Georgia Medicaid Eligibility
Each year, most Medicaid eligibility limits are adjusted for inflation. The 2023 Georgia Medicaid income and resource limits are: SSI Medicaid: Income: $914 per month, Countable Resources: $2,000 QMB Medicaid: Income: $1,235 (100% FPL + $20), Countable Resources: $9,090 SLMB Medicaid: Income: $1,478 (120% FPL +$20), Countable Resources: $9,090 CCSP/EDWP/Nursing Home Income: $2,742; Applicant Resources: […]
Pooled Trusts Currently Authorized to Provide Trust Services in Georgia
As of this writing, the following pooled trusts are authorized by the Department of Community Health to provide trust services in Georgia: Georgia Community/Trust/Bobby Dodd Institute Anita Gardner Decatur, GA 404.809.2914 Anchor For Special Needs, Inc. Annie Warner Cincinnati, OH 844.526.2467 Advocates and Guardians for the Elderly & Disabled (AGED) Thad A. Joseph Longwood, FL 888-277-1826 The Center […]
ABLE Accounts
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 (S. 313/H.R.647) was introduced in the 113th Congress by a bipartisan group of Congressional Champions that included Sens. Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC), and Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX). The ABLE […]
Spousal Impoverishment Standards By Year
The Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment allowances are updated annually. Below are some of the annual allowance figures we’ve saved. The most current figures are usually posted here. 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 1998 – 2011
2023 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the 2023 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards. Among the highlights are the following: Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $148,620 Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $3,715.50 Income Cap: $2,742 (used to deterine whether a QIT is needed) Individual SSI rate: $914
Cash, Bank Accounts and Non-retirement Investments and Medicaid
Cash and Accounts Monetary resources can typically be liquidated within 20 days. These include cash, savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts and the like. Medicaid always “counts” monetary assets when determining Medicaid eligibility. Specifically, 20 C.F.R § 416.1201(b) provides: “Liquid resources are cash or other property which can be converted to cash within 20 […]
Government Bonds and Medicaid
Government Bonds are debt instruments issued by a government entity. The most common form of government bond owned by a Medicaid applicantis U.S. Savings Bonds. Savings bonds are not transferrable. They can only be sold back to the government. If they are owned solely by the applicant or the applicant’s spouse, they are countable. However, […]
Vehicles and Medicaid
General Rule One vehicle of any value is exempt. If the applicant has more than one vehicle, then the most valuable vehicle will be exempt and other vehicles will count toward the $2,000 resource limit. In Georgia, “Automobile” means any vehicle used for transportation. These include cars, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, animal-drawn vehicles and animals. […]
POMS Provisions Regarding Property Rights
POMS SI 01120.010 provides that an individual must have some form of ownership interest in property in order for the property to be considered a resource. [For presumably liquid resources (SI 01110.305), assume that the person whose name is shown as owner owns the entire resource. If more than one owner is shown, assume that […]
Property Rights
Assets are things you own that have value. Assets include all income and all resources. 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(h)(1). They are one-half of a net-worth calculation (the other half being liabilities). Medicaid treats different types of assets differently, with some being countable and others being non-countable (or exempt) during the eligibility determination. Recall that you […]
