
Medicaid Spend Down Specialists
Let our team help you make a seamless transition from private pay to Medicaid without changing home care agencies!
Medicaid is health insurance that helps people who can't afford to pay for their medical expenses. People usually think that because they own a home or have some assets that they can't qualify for Medicaid help with their nursing home and doctor's bills. In reality there are a variety of assets people can own and still qualify. It's just a matter of knowing the rules, and making a plan to meet those requirements.
Here are the asset limits for those applying for Medicaid.
1. Cash – You can possess $1,600 cash that will not be counted as an asset in determining your Medicaid eligibility.
2. Home – There is a $500,000 exclusion towards your home, so if your home is valued at $500,000 or less at the time of your application, your home is excluded as an asset. Some states use the higher permitted exemption of $750,000.
3. Car –A single car of ANY current market value is excluded on your application.
4. Funeral and Burial Funds – If you have a pre-planned funeral or memorial arrangement, the entire value of that plan is excluded. If you do not have it pre-planned, a separate bank account that contains $1,500 toward funeral expenses can be excluded. If you have pre-purchased burial plots, you can exclude not only the costs of the plot for the applicant, but for the entire family.
5. Property –Any real or personal property that is essential to self-support, regardless of value or rate of return, is excluded. That could include rental properties, farms, and other real estate investments that generate income necessary for self-support. For rental income, the property must generate at least 6 percent of its value annually in order to qualify for the exclusion.
6. Life Insurance –The cash value of a life insurance policy owned by the applicant is counted, thus, all term policies are ignored.