There are many facets of Medicaid benefits planning that must be mastered in order to successfully navigate the waters of this complicated area of law. This manual will introduce you to the basics of Medicaid such as eligibility rules for single persons and married couples, spend-down techniques, asset transfer rules, and basic planning strategies. Our experienced faculty will show you how to fill out the PA 600L application for Medical Assistance and avoid common mistakes that may cause unnecessary delays. You will also learn how to interface with the various players involved and deal with such issues as penalized gifts, caregiver agreements, prepaid funeral expenses, purchasing personal items for the applicant or spouse, post eligibility planning and post-death issues, including sale of an exempt home, and filial responsibility. Prepare yourself so you can guide your clients through what is often a very difficult time in their lives.
Summary of Contents
Basics of Medicaid Planning
I. Background
A. In General
II. Eligibility
A. In General
B. Medical Assistance Care Choices
C. Financial Considerations
III. Spousal Issues
A. Definitions of Spousal Types
B. Income.
C. Resources – Spousal Share & Community Spouse Resource Allowance
D. Community Spouse Income Issues
IV. Resource Transfers
A. In General
B. Certain Transfers Creating Ineligibility
C. Annuities
D. Exempt Transfers
E. Return of Non-Exempt Transferred Resource and Undue Hardship
F. Miscellaneous Resource Transfer Provisions
V. Application Process
VI. Practice Tips for Advising the Client through the Medical Assistance Application Process
A. Preparing the Application
B. Pending Status of the Application
C. Post-Eligibility
VII. Estate Recovery
Appendices
Appendix A: PA-600L MA Application
Appendix B: PA-4 Release and Authorization
Appendix C: MA-51 Medical Evaluation
Appendix D: PA-1572 Resource Assessment
Appendix E: PA-162 Sample
Appendix F: Medicaid/Medicare Numbers to Know
Appendix G: 2019 Hurly Calculation
Appendix H: 2019 Burial Limits for Medicaid