Medicaid Applications Lawyer in Massachusetts
Did you know that Medicaid will pay for nursing home care, which can cost thousands of dollars for even a simple, no-frills room? Now for the bad news: Medicaid won’t pay a penny until you’ve spent all but $2,000 of your assets.
If you’re not sure if you qualify for Medicaid or your application was denied, the team at Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C. can help. Your Medicaid applications lawyer can help you keep more of that hard-earned money in your pocket where it belongs. With custom asset protection strategies and answers to all your questions, we help you plan for your retirement years and safeguard your assets.
Asset Protection Strategies
Nobody wants to imagine that they might one day need a nursing home. But even if you’re healthy now, you’ll likely require some kind of care later in life.
Long-term care Medicaid caps your asset value at $2,000 or less. That includes bank accounts, investments, and property (except for your home). If you own more than $2,000 in assets, you’ll need to spend the money down to qualify.
You’re probably wondering if there’s any way to shelter those assets from Medicaid. Thankfully, you do have some options. A few strategies include:
- Gifting money
- Buying long-term care insurance
- Creating an irrevocable trust
However, remember that Medicaid has a five-year penalty period for selling and gifting assets. It reviews your accounts to make sure you didn’t sell your assets for less than they’re worth.
Estate planning protects your assets so Medicaid will approve you when the time comes. But what if you didn’t make a plan and need nursing home care now? Contact a Medicaid applications lawyer from our team to learn how we can help.
We Handle Medicaid Application Denials and More
If your assets exceed the limit, Medicaid will deny your application. Our attorneys can tell you how to legally spend down resources so you qualify.
To qualify for long-term care Medicaid, you’ll need to meet a nursing home level of care. Usually, that means you have trouble doing normal activities, such as bathing, eating, and dressing. You might also have medical issues that you can’t manage on your own. For instance, maybe you need help with your catheter or taking your medications.
But Medicaid may claim that you don’t really need nursing home care. It might say that you can function on your own, even if you clearly can’t. We will fight to reverse the decision and prove that you qualify for long-term care.
Is Medicaid demanding repayment for your loved one’s nursing home care? Medicaid will try to recover what it spent from someone’s estate after they die. But it’s possible to prevent this by keeping the estate out of probate court.
Contact an Elder Law Attorney for Help with Your Medicaid Application in Massachusetts
Did Medicaid deny your application because you exceed asset requirements? We know the application process is frustrating, especially if you’re disabled and need nursing home care right now.
Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C. has more than 90 years of experience serving residents of Salem and nearby cities. Call us at (978) 878-3519 to speak with a Medicaid applications lawyer today.