Medicaid question about renting.

I for years was under the impression both of us would be living on a shoestring. We both worked all our lives. It did not seem fair. I am paying $2000 even now for his care and he is home with me. I just get an aide AM and PM to get him in and out of bed and kept clean. chris

What you will be dealing with is the medicaid rules related to "Community Spouse". For couples facing this IMO you really really need to work with an elder law atty. in advance of his ever entering a facility and before the Medicaid application is done. Couples stuff is just more complex and not a DIY project as you are likely too focused on day to day dealing and overwhelmed.

Atty can help you get CSRA or MMNA if need be. Community spouse resource allowance / monthly maintenance needs allowance - think of it as sort of alimony for the nonNH spouse. You should NOT have to yourself become impoverished only the in a NH on Medicaid spouse does.

Most states have it so that for couples their assets are fixed at the day the application is done. Often called the "snapshot day". If $ needs to move around or things paid off, or paperwork changed etc, they need to be done before snapshot. It's easy to overlook stuff pr do something that morphs into a Medicaid problem. Classic example is dealing with cars... Medicaid allows for 1 car; most couples have 2; they give one to kid or grandkids.... but That is gifting and not allowed by Medicaid so get a transfer penalty and ineligible. Really see an elder law atty before he needs to go into a facility. Good luck & keep a sense of humor going!

Also check Medicaid for your state. The program is administered through the states, so it can vary from state to state. All states have to at least meet the standards set up by the federal government. I've noticed that some states are more generous than others at going beyond those standards.

This is a good question. The government does not want the community spouse to be thrown into poverty, so there is a generous allowance made. You can read about what it done and the standards on these pages from Medicaid.

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/spousal-impoverishment/index.html