I have medicare and medicaid...my sister has asked me to cosign with her so she can refinance her home..if I do, will that count against me because it will show I am on the mortgage with her?
Loribob02...Medicare or Medicaid? You're mixing them up. For Medicare, call the Social Security office, 1-800772-1213. There's no application process. For Medicaid, contact a state agency or a social worker where your relative is now. That insurance foes have qualifications.
If a nursing home is involved, the social worker can give you a Medicaid packet. Don't let the amount of papers scare you. There will be a checklist of things to include and copies you will need of financial records (bank accts. etc ). Just take your time and go down the list one item at a time. Mark off each one as you complete it. I had never done anything like this, when I did the paperwork for a friend. I was able to complete all of it in 2 weeks. Breaking it down , one item at a time , was the easiest way for me. I also wrote down names and numbers of anyone, who could answer a question about any item on the list. If need be, you could go on line and ask Medicare , for the packet. Hope this helps you loribob02
Carmine - Medicaid allows for a house & a car to be a exempt asset for Medicaid in addition to 2K in $ assets.
But what ends up being an issue for those who go onto Medicaid & have a house or a car and are now in a NH or other facility is that Medicaid requires them to do a monthly co-pay of their income to the NH. The co-pay is ALL their monthly income less whatever your state has as it's personal needs allowance. The allowance is small - from $ 35.00 - 90.00 depending on your state. It is just enough to pay for their hair salon or barber shop @ the NH, clothing replacement, phone or cable or other NH costs not paid by Medicaid. There will be no $ to pay for anything on the car or the house (taxes, insurance, gas) so somebody from the family will have to pay for all that for as long as the Medicaid person is alive. Cars usually get sold - unless there is a spouse still living at home and driving the car - with the $ from the sale to go towards a spend-down. You have to do the spend down too as the auto sale or transfer is recorded by the state and Medicaid will find out the asset has changed ownership.
Update: My mother is finally on medicaid and they made it retroactive through September 2011. She was accepted in October, I believe. In any case, they made it retroactive through September 2011. My next step(s) has been to notify everyone and get them to file for payment by medicaid and then to send reimbursements to my mother. Not everyone accepts medicaid, including her primary care physician. *sigh*
2k a month. Check with your State's Social Services Department. We live in Maryland, while looking up something else I came across a department letter discussing changes in the income allowance (went up to 3k/month for couples). You could also search your State's website to see if there are any announcements about increased allowances for public assistance.
If your mom is a veteran or spouse of a veteran there are LTC provisions under the VA Geriatrics Dept. Ask a social worker at a VA hospital for eligibility requirements. And, either way, be ready for a workout!
my friend will be getting on medicare in a couple months. she has a hard time getting by now and hopes to get assistance in paying for medicare. she has a mobile home paid for in her name.if she sells it now, will she not qualify for assistance with medicare payments. hers will be 100.00 but she can't afford it and get by. she is on disability retirement.from where she works, not soc. sec. she brings home 765.00 from parish (she was a teacher's aide), and 200.00 from soc. sec. could she donate or sell it to a friend.
you need not have over $2000.00 in the bank. Maybe I didn't make myself clear. If there is nothing in your parents name you are OK I think. I researched really well while applying. Yes it is tricky but that's why I said to read carefully. I also moved things around in order to get my mom qualified, if you know what I mean.
Certainly it is good to speak with a lawyer Austin is right in that area but I talked to the attorney who did my moms trust who gave me a lot of help.
It's also hard to find lawyers who specialize in Medical/Medicaid because the laws keep changing. Reason being Attorneys keep finding loop holes.
It depends on the state you live in but you need to talk to a social worker or elder lawyer or social service where you live - I was only into applying to medicaide when my husband died but the social worker at the nursing home had told me what I would have been allowed to have come in each month and is was more than 2000.00 dollars but I do not remember why that was but they do not allow for what debts you have even if they were because of the spouse who is the one going to receive medicaide and they are not concerned how much taxes are or whatever it seems they want the spouse still living in the home to be penniless even my life insurance was considered an assest of mine when he would get medicaide. You really need a lawyer to have someone on your side when applying for medicaide.
I read that; it wasn't helpful at all. My mother's circumstances are nothing like any of the examples. She has medicare and social security and she isn't going into any kind of nursing home or assisted living and that seemed to be the focus of the article.
I don't know what State you're in but I'm in California. Income for single no more than $2000.00, in us currency. No homes outside of California, and if your parent owns a home it should be in a trust so that the State doesn't try to recover it should anything happen to your parent. Does that help at all?
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For Medicaid, contact a state agency or a social worker where your relative is now. That insurance foes have qualifications.
But what ends up being an issue for those who go onto Medicaid & have a house or a car and are now in a NH or other facility is that Medicaid requires them to do a monthly co-pay of their income to the NH. The co-pay is ALL their monthly income less whatever your state has as it's personal needs allowance. The allowance is small - from $ 35.00 - 90.00 depending on your state. It is just enough to pay for their hair salon or barber shop @ the NH, clothing replacement, phone or cable or other NH costs not paid by Medicaid. There will be no $ to pay for anything on the car or the house (taxes, insurance, gas) so somebody from the family will have to pay for all that for as long as the Medicaid person is alive. Cars usually get sold - unless there is a spouse still living at home and driving the car - with the $ from the sale to go towards a spend-down. You have to do the spend down too as the auto sale or transfer is recorded by the state and Medicaid will find out the asset has changed ownership.
If your mom is a veteran or spouse of a veteran there are LTC provisions under the VA Geriatrics Dept. Ask a social worker at a VA hospital for eligibility requirements. And, either way, be ready for a workout!
So, much reading and then more consulting.
Argh. :)
Certainly it is good to speak with a lawyer Austin is right in that area but I talked to the attorney who did my moms trust who gave me a lot of help.
It's also hard to find lawyers who specialize in Medical/Medicaid because the laws keep changing. Reason being Attorneys keep finding loop holes.
:)
Good reading!!
Thank you, Pamela148
"How Can My Elderly Parent Qualify for Medicaid?"