NURSING HOME MYTHS AND REALITIES
Many of my clients are worried about long-term costs if they ever need a nursing home. Most do not have any type of long-term care insurance.
These clients typically ask: Will the nursing take my house? Or they say: I don’t want to give all my hard-earned money to a nursing home!
What they are really asking me is how to get on Medicaid! Medicaid is the government assistance program that pays for long-term care. It is meant for folks with low income and few assets.
But… the Medicaid rules are complicated and there are ways to become eligible and keep many of your assets. For example, in Florida, your primary residence does NOT count as an asset when computing eligibility. There are many other types of assets that do not count as well. And if your income is too high, there is a type of income Trust you can create and still become eligible for Medicaid.
However, there is another reality here. Not all facilities accept Medicaid. And you are not likely to get your own room in a Medicaid facility. Further, you will not be able to use your own doctors. For health care, Medicaid patients must be in a managed care plan. And not all treatments and therapies are paid for by Medicaid.
So, no, you don’t need to give your house to the state, but Medicaid is a needs-based program and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you might want.
Do you have questions or need help with planning for your future?
Call the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms at 386.256.4882 to learn more.
This blog post is not case-specific and is provided only for educational purposes and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Blog topics may or may not be updated and entries may be out-of-date at the time you view them.
