Connecticut Medicaid Planning & Division of Assets
As life expectancies and long term care costs continue to rise, the challenge quickly becomes how to pay for these services. Many people cannot afford to pay $15,000 to $17,000 per month for the cost of Connecticut nursing home, and those who can pay for a while may find their life savings wiped out in a matter of months, rather than years.
Fortunately, Connecticut Medicaid programs are there to help. In fact, in our lifetime, Medicaid has become the long term care insurance of the middle class. But the eligibility to receive Medicaid benefits requires that you pass certain tests on the amount of income and assets that you have.
Very few Americans have long-term care insurance. Many are uninsurable or cannot afford such insurance. At most, Medicare only pays part of the first 100 days of your stay in a long term care facility. Nearly half of all Americans will spend some time in a nursing home.
There are five ways to pay for a nursing home:
• Private Pay
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Medicare
• Veterans Benefits
• Medicaid
For all practical purposes the only plan available to most citizens for long term care is Medicaid. Medicare only pays for about 2% of skilled nursing care in the United States. Private insurance pays for even less. The result is that mot people pay out of their own pockets for long term care unless or until they become eligible for Medicaid. To be eligible, you must become financially eligible under the program’s guidelines.
The Medicaid program is a partnership between the federal government and the state. Each state submits its Medicaid program to the federal government for approval and once approved, the federal government assists with the funding. The programs of other states differ from Connecticut’s program and the differences between the programs are significant.
K&T can help. Do you need help paying for the Cost of Nursing Home Care? Are you caring for a loved one with alzheimer’s? Do you have a loved one on hospice? Do you need information about Veteran’s assisted living or home health care benefits?
Kilbourne & Tully, P.C., Connecticut Elder & Disability Law Firm can help you protect your assets if you need to pay for long term care in your home or an assisted living facility, or other costs associated with long term care, while proving security for your spouse and an inheritance for children. The rules for Medicaid eligibility and other public benefit programs can be confusing and change from year-to-year. Our Elder Law attorneys will help you determine your legal rights, and assist you in applying for Medicaid or other assistance for which you may be eligible.
We invite you to contact us today to make arrangements for a free consultation to discuss any questions you may have regarding Medicaid Division of Assets. Discover the Planning Steps You Should Take Right Now. Call us to discuss the answers to a number of the common questions that families in Connecticut have and understand the effective strategies for long-term planning.
