What Does “Medicaid Pending” Mean?
In today’s world, it is crucial to have healthcare insurance. So, it can be concerning if your application status is still “Medicaid Pending.” Medicaid Pending status means that your application or your parent’s application has not yet been approved or denied. Essentially, your application is in limbo. Here is why this status is important: Some […]
What to Do If Your Medicaid Application Is Denied
If you apply for long-term care assistance through Medicaid and your application is denied, the situation may seem hopeless. The good news is that you can appeal the decision. Medicaid is a program for low-income individuals, so it has strict income and asset eligibility requirements. Qualifying for Medicaid requires navigating the complicated application process, which has […]
Medicaid’s “Snapshot” Date and Its Crucial Impact on a Couple’s Financial Picture
When a married couple applies for Medicaid, the Medicaid agency must analyze the couple’s income and assets as of a particular date to determine eligibility. The date that the agency chooses for this analysis is called the “snapshot” date and it can have a major impact on a couple’s financial future. In order to be […]
Millions of People Could Lose Medicaid Coverage When the Pandemic Is Declared Over
While declining COVID-19 cases are good news, the end of the pandemic could mean millions of Medicaid recipients will lose their coverage. Federal law has prevented states from terminating Medicaid benefits while the coronavirus health emergency is in place. The Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a nationwide public health emergency for COVID-19 in […]
What Documents Are Required for a Medicaid Application?
Medicaid applicants must prove that they have limited income and assets in order to be eligible for long-term care services. Therefore, before beginning the application process, it is helpful to understand what information you will be required to provide to prove your eligibility. Medicaid is a state-run program, so the rules can vary from state […]
You ‘Cure’ a Medicaid Penalty Period by Returning a Gift
Anyone who gifted assets within five years of applying for Medicaid may be subject to a penalty period, but that penalty can be reduced or eliminated if the assets are returned. In order to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot have recently transferred assets. Congress does not want you to move into a nursing home […]
Using Estate Planning to Prepare for Medicaid
Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets for future generations. Long-term care can be very expensive, especially around-the-clock nursing home care. Most people end up paying for nursing home care […]
Using Estate Planning to Prepare for Medicaid
Careful planning in advance can help protect your estate for your spouse or children. If you make a plan before you need long-term care, you may have the luxury of distributing or protecting your assets in advance. This way, when you do need long-term care, you will quickly qualify for Medicaid benefits.
What To Do With Your Stimulus Check if You Are in a Nursing Home
As the second round of stimulus checks go out, it is important to know that nursing home residents are not required to turn their checks over to their nursing home. And Medicaid recipients need to spend the cash within a year if it puts them over Medicaid’s resource limit. In December 2020, Congress approved $600 […]
How Your Stimulus Check Affects Medicaid Eligibility
With the pending approval of a second round stimulus payments under the Senate’s HEALS Act, this provides a good reminder for how the first wave of payments were calculated. The coronavirus relief bill includes a direct payment to most Americans, but this has Medicaid recipients wondering how the payment will affect them. Because the payment […]
