My mother doesn't qualify for Medicaid. How can we get help for her care?

Your mom is in what is called the “spend down” time before qualifying for Medicaid, so the help you get for her will have to be paid for out-of-pocket. Once she spends down her money to meet Medicaid’s standards for qualification, they will help with care.
You may want to consult an elder law attorney to help you figure this out. Make sure the attorney knows Medicaid laws well. You don’t want to get into trouble with the government.

Carol

While it is true that in most states the former home of a nursing home residence can be attached by the state to repay its Medicaid bill after the nursing home patient dies, there is a different rule in Florida. In FL, the home is protected and will not be attached by the state either during life or after death!

As Carol has said she can go into a nursing home as self pay until she spends down to what they decide is appropaite then will qualify the good news is the nursing home will do the paperwork and believe that takes a burden off you she will have to sell the condo propaply -the trouble is people wait until too late to make these decisions we did our planning when in our 60's but the nursing home would still have gotton his SS and pension and most of our investments and I would have been left wirh very few assests and all his debt he died and I am still stuck with his credit card debt because he put cards in my name, There is not a lot you can do at this point except go to the lawyer and see what he can arrange do not get yourself upset the elders know they need to act when they are younger and most don't for many reasons-she will be able to go into a nursing home and will get in a good one easily because of her assests just make sure it is close to you so you can go in often and check on her care and try not to be upset-many elders could have prevented this themselves if they had wanted to by acting earlier but most expect someone else to do the work,

There is help for people without assets. There is no program to protect your inheritance. The taxpayer is not going to be burdened to subsidize you, only the needy.

Oh....that money you gave to your sons will count against her ability to get Medicaid.

You are not allowed to give away your assets and then expect the taxpayers to pay for Mom.

Don't like the law? Quit voting for the politicians that have been gutting the social safety nets for years. Sadly, the stereotype of the minority welfare queen living on the taxpayer dollars while popping babies every year has been sold to the public. The VAST MAJORITY of "welfare" (meaning social programs for the needy) goes to help the elderly and indigent just like your Mom and mine. Worked their whole lives only to lose it all to a for profit medical system! Yet another way to transfer the inheritance from one generation into the pocket of the corporations and the stock holders, But the stereotype was totally believed....so...now those rotten welfare queens cannot get help when they need it...meaning again..your Mom and mine.

Ok...that was my rant

You must use all of your Moms money and assets first..then Medicaid takes over.

A condo would be a "non-countable asset", meaning Medicaid can't include it when listing her assets. The investments you mentioned would most likely be "countable". It's really best to check with an eldercare lawyer on this - the fee can be paid with your mother's money, and a lawyer will help during the Medicaid application process.

The Condo is in Florida. I keep her with me in NYC. We are in Florida at this moment, as we spend the winters here, but I don't want her staying here alone when I have to go to NY. If she doesn't see me she gets anxious. Should I not mention this when applying for Medicaid. All she has is Medicare. She has an anutity, not much as money has been depositing into her acoount for her things but I stopped payments from that coming and showing up on her account. Yes, I must lie now, because she worked hard till she was 70 yrs old and I see young people on the system taking it for granted. I am sick myself. It's just not fair.

Hi,

In NYC it is considered an asset. They have told her to sell it, then use up that money and then she can apply and see if she qualifys. That is why I am in Florida being this is her primary address now, but NOT why I want to be at the moment. I have health issues myself that I must take care of. My mother gets anxious when she does not see me, so I will not leave her here alone in a Nursing Home in Florida not knowing anyone. Also the problem of her not knowing english. When she worked she got along with the basic english, now she hardly understands things in spanish.
I really need help. It's very complicated especially when your alone, don't know anyone here in FL. and have no transportation. My son has left us to fend for ourselfs, well he has stopped by everyday for 10 or 15 minutes and has bought somethings for us, but I was surprised to see he had moved 95% of his things out to his G/F's apt. Today he took some more, because we couldn't lend him $2,000.00 dollars. He will be moving to Colorado soon with his G/F who I know as a mother this isn't going to work, but I cannot stop him.
I appreciate all responses and help at this moment, as I feel so lost and cannot eat. I am weak, dizzy, and have NO appetite.

Hi GrabrielKeiser,

I think people are not understandng that I do not want my mother in a Nursing home. All I am asking for is some morning help of 4 to 5 hours and not have her lose what she worked so hard to have and leave us. (her 2 children) somethng. That is totally unfair. Thanks for your input, all and any is welcome. FL. might be better for her at this time, but not for me. I live in NY and have my Doctors out there as well as a psychartist. I don't want to lose my apt. or my helps in NY. Why so complicated, because she has a property? Isn't this what we work for and look towards having something? Is work just to save so when you ge old or sick you pay it? My mother wants nothing free, but I feel she paid her dues. She just retired 7 yrs ago.

It is so important to plan early we went to a seminair years ago and started planning even though the lawyer turned out to be slick and his answers changed after he got a good chunk of money to set up things at least one thing he did right and us -we did the work actually was to put our home in a trust then many years later -more than 5 we were or I was starting to apply for medicaide and I think anyone over say 55 should go over the form your eyes will be opened for sure -my husband died before I got very far with the application but everyone should be aware of what planning they need to do early on if you have family one of my friends said her lawyer told her nothing has to be done until one of them is in a nursing home which shows what some lawyers will tell people and she did not want any info from me. The present thinking is that all our assests should be for OUR old age and not to even think about leaving anything for your families that is the governments thinking which usually happens because people do not want to face getting older and sick and their death.