Can you or do you apply for Medicaid before you actually need it?

As the other posters here have commented, it is important to make sure you understand the rules and get your paperwork in order before you apply for Medicaid, particularly if the applicant has made any gifts within the prior 5 years. However, you will not be granted Medicaid benefits unless at the time of application there is a real financial as well as medical need for such assistance. As such, although you can apply months before such financial need exists, with the thought that it will "kick in" once you really need it, Medicaid will be denied and you will have to apply again later once the actual need begins.

Look at facilities now! They are usually quite adept at guiding you through the Medicaid process, but they can't do it for you. If you know the facilities,, put her on waiting lists. If she is hospitalized, it will make the process of getting her in a bed quickly, easier. From experience, it's tough to run around and look at facilities when your elder is very ill, recovering from surgery or otherwise in need of hospitalization.

Do you mean to apply now because she has no health insurance or maybe only Medicare? She may be eligible for help on her Medicare costs through Medicaid. If this is to help like this apply now. Or are you anticipating the need for nursing home care many months or a year down the line? Then you could wait. However, it wouldn't hurt to apply just on the chance that she qualifies now for some type of assistance. If you get turned down be sure you understand exactly why so you can prepare for the next time. You can always reapply whenever you want.

I would go visit a couple nursing homes and talk to them about their residents going onto Medicaid as some residents start as private pay then have to apply for Medicaid. There are a lot of differences between nursing homes and you want to know who the good ones are and who will take people on Medicaid. We had to make fast decisions for my parents as each had a major surgery in the same month which was the end of independent living for them and it would have been nice to have visited more facilities ahead of time. You can also check with your state's department of aging for information in general on issues like this. They can tell you about Medicaid and ratings of nursing homes both. Good luck. It's a difficult time for your family.

Another note: don't assume the facility your mom is at will assist you in the Medicaid application process. Some do not offer any assistance at all--ours did not & even threatened to evict mom because we "assumed" they were on board in the process with us.

We went into this process completely ignorant and boy, is hindsight 20-20. Start by contacting Catholic Charities. They can provide the first light in the tunnel. Depending on where you live, there may be social service agencies in your area that can offer terrific support as well. The important thing is to be PROACTIVE!

Simply applying for Medicaid is not to be taken lightly, and without consideration. There are ALWAYS unintended consequences with uniformed decisions!

Has any one thought of the young man applying for Medicaid, and later being subject to estate recovery, or liens? I don't know what that situation is; is he permanently disabled, or just a rough time?

You can choose a nursing home if you start on private pay, once on Medicaid there is no choice, nor assurance of proximity, quality.

Assets limits are key; you can't be a dollar over! Cash value of a Life insurance policy of which you thought "you would get the death benefit" often will be a disqualification. In Georgia I have helped many families with the Funeral Trust (Medicaid Approved), in both pre planning and crisis planning, to preserve those funds, values, for the 'patient', and for family members, instead of losing it to the nursing home, / risking months of disqualification. Do not make that mistake, and a funeral home should NOT be the beneficiary, (visit to a funeral home is NOT required)

Something forgotten: again for my Georgia clients I can convert an inforce Life Insurance policy of any kind with a face value of at least $50,000 into a benefit to pay for private Care or even Home modification, in contrast to letting those polcies lapse or be subject to Medicaid Recovery, it is Medicaid approved and encouraged

However most social workers are not conversant regarding these options

Regarding VA benefits (for WARTIME ERA VETS & SURVIVING SPOUSE), you cannot apply unless the need is present, it is not simply done; "so we are ready in a year or six months". However the preplanning & asset preservation must be! VA guidlines are confusing and misunderstood!
Do not make the mistake of not having a SOLID Health and Finanancial POA in place before some one is mentally incapacitated.

Catholic Charities will help anyone, not just Catholics.

You can help your loved one if you can put together enough money to pay for the first six months of nursing home care in the facility of your choice. Once a patient is admitted to a nursing home and later needs Medicaid they can not be moved to an inferior facility.

Start by pulling together five years of bank statements and be sure you can account for every penny spent. Failure to account for cash withdrawn is the biggest stumbling block.

Apply now.