FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

UPDATE ON MEDICAID HOME CARE LOOKBACK
At this time the MEDICAID HOME CARE does not have a penalty period. This has been extended through at least April 1, 2023.
These benefits can include adult day care, some assisted living, home health aides, and other community-type services. As more updates become available, we will advise.
Since many of you were not ready to apply by the end of this year, we suggest you contact as soon as possible to get this process started.
Call our team at 516-797-0601

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The process to apply for Medicaid assistance is a complicated one. There are numerous requirements and forms that need to be completed as part of the formal application process as well as face to face interviews with the Department of Social Services.

Effective October 1, 2020 a 30-month look back will be imposed for all community based, long term care service applications.

This means that any gifts or transfers made during the look back period will be assigned a penalty period and the applicant will NOT immediately be eligible for Medicaid assistance. As you all know, previously, there was NO look back on home care. In addition, applicants will no longer be able to transfer assets to their heirs and be eligible for Community Home Care Medicaid the month after the gifting. Personal Care services will also be evaluated with much more restrictive guidelines as of October 1st. This new law WILL AFFECT millions of you, your loved ones, and friends.

What You Can Do Now: If your loved one needs assistance now, or it is possible that they will need assistance in the next 30 months, and you have been holding off on applying for Medicaid, RIGHT NOW is the time to act. If you know of anyone this could affect, please forward them this email and have them call us.

No. The time to plan for Medicaid assistance is well before it is needed, generally several years. Without proper planning, an individual may be ineligible for assistance or face delays when it is needed most.

No, it is not necessary to retain an attorney to apply for Medicaid. In fact, many attorneys are not familiar with the Social Services Law. Additionally, those that do process Medicaid applications often charge high retainer fees and will bill additionally for follow-up interviews, telephone time, etc.

Yes, however with the new laws in place you will need additional planning.

Anybody can apply. Most of an applicant's "excess income" can be protected by initiating a Charitable Pooled Income Trust.

Medicare coverage will remain the primary payer of your health care costs. Additionally, if you have supplemental health insurance you will retain it as well. Therefore, your physicians will not change.

This depends on a formal assessment that is completed on every applicant. I have found over the years The Medicaid Program has for the most part provided the care that our clients needed.

Of course not! As long as either one of you remains in your home, there can be no lien placed upon it. If you are a single elder, you are entitled to remain in your home while receiving services and there may be ways to protect your homestead, or at least a significant portion, even if you require care in a skilled nursing facility. However, we recommend the protection of your home and work in conjunction with attorneys. Even if you enter a nursing home without pre-planning, you may preserve a portion.

Quite frankly, NO. Although they are mandated to provide you with information and assistance, they are so inundated with the overwhelming number of applicants, these departments are unable to provide significant assistance. Potential applicants often misinterpret the information which is provided. Additionally, they cannot provide assistance with Medicaid planning for the protection of assets. Metro Eldercare Agency II, LTD can provide this information, and the expertise and assistance you will need to apply.

Absolutely not. If a spouse needs a nursing home, you can still protect assets even if the need for care is immediate. And if there is no spouse, a significant portion of your assets may be preserved at the last minute if our advice is followed.

Absolutely. If a spouse needs a nursing home, you can still protect assets even if the need for care is immediate. And if there is no spouse, a significant portion of your assets may be preserved at the last minute if our advice is followed.

The rules governing the gifting of assets are those most commonly misunderstood. They are different for Community Medicaid and Nursing Home Medicaid. The amount and the timing of the gifting is paramount when it comes to planning for a Nursing Home Medicaid application. Additionally, people tend to confuse the Federal, State and Local tax laws with Medicaid statutes. This can create significant penalty periods and unnecessary expense.

Your initial meeting will probably last about one hour, although we will meet with you until you are satisfied that all of your questions have been answered. You should bring information about your current income and financial holdings. We will give you specific, detailed guidelines regarding what documentation will be needed to process the application as the process progresses. The more information you bring to the consultation, the more accurate the recommendations.

The length of time it takes to process the application is in great part determined by how quickly you provide us with the documents needed, and what type of application you are applying for. Depending upon your county of residence, once the application is submitted, a Community application can take 1 to 2 months to be approved, and a Nursing Home application can take 3 to 6 months.

Many people are under this assumption, but this is not necessarily true. Metro Eldercare Agency II, LTD will review your policy to determine if it meets your needs.

There is a fee for the initial consultation.The fee for processing your Medicaid application is determined during the consultation. This is based upon the complexity of your financial situation, and the type of Medicaid program you are applying for. Community and Nursing Home programs have varying requirements for documentation.

Metro Eldercare Agency II, LTD is located at 4585 Merrick Road, Massapequa, New York. You can call 516-797-0601 or email me at elaine@metroeldercare.com to schedule an appointment. You can find directions to the office on the website.