Medicaid Application Lawyer
The increasing cost of long-term care is a huge concern for many families. Whether considering your own needs or assisting a loved one, the earlier you begin planning the more options you have available.
Medicaid can provide resources to pay for long-term care, but it can be difficult to qualify. Huizenga Law develops plans to help establish eligibility for Medicaid without unnecessarily depleting assets. We can also assist with the application process, resolving problems, and appealing denials.
Strategies to Establish Eligibility
To qualify for Medicaid long-term care benefits, an applicant must demonstrate that they have very little income and almost no assets. However, some assets are not counted for eligibility purposes.
You cannot simply give away your property to qualify. Medicaid officials look at your transactions over the last five years. Any property transferred, given away, or sold for less than market value is still treated as yours.
To put your family in the most advantageous position, you should start planning at least five years ahead of the potential need for long-term care. Of course, emergencies can strike at any time, and an estate planning attorney can help with strategies at any point in the process.
A Medicaid long-term care plan might involve strategies such as:
- Spending strategies to move funds into exempt assets
- Asset protection trusts
- Shelter strategies
- Pre-paying funeral expenses
It is critical to follow the rules when implementing these strategies because mistakes can prevent or delay Medicaid eligibility.
Long Term Support Services
Once an individual qualifies for Medicaid in Iowa, the program offers Long Term Support Services to help maintain the optimal quality of life either in a facility or in the home. These services include:
- Home and Community-Based Services
- Residential Care Facilities providing 24-hour care for those who need support other than nursing care
- Nursing Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities
The team at Huizenga Law can help you demonstrate that you qualify to receive benefits under the desired program.
Elder Law and Long-Term Care Strategies to Coordinate with Other Estate Planning Tools
We work to ensure that your strategies for paying for long-term care coordinate with other aspects of your estate plan. To protect your needs and the future of your family, it is important to look at all the factors involved and the impact of these factors going forward.
At Huizenga Law, we consider the full range of goals and circumstances. Whether we are building a comprehensive plan or filling in the gaps, we want to ensure that all components work together for your benefit, and that operation of one part of your plan does not derail the success of other parts of that plan.
Contact Huizenga Law Today for Help with Medicaid Planning and Applications
Anticipating the impacts of the aging process on our bodies and minds is not a job anyone looks forward to. However, when you take the time to develop the right plan for yourself or a family member, you can rest assured that you have taken the necessary steps toward an easier path forward.
Schedule a consultation with Huizenga Law today to learn how we can assist you with Medicaid to meet long-term needs.
