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| It is our pledge at National Eldercare Alliance to take care of our members as if they were our own family. If we feel a service or facility wouldn't be worthy for our own parents or family, then we won't recommend them to you either. |
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Welcome Shriners |
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 What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a jointly-funded Federal-State health insurance program for certain low-income and needy people.
What Long Term Care Services are provided?
Medicaid offers care in institutions that provide skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and other related services for residents. Medicaid will pay for both skilled and custodial services; however, this program usually does not pay for home health care services or care in an assisted living facility.
 How do people qualify for benefits?
Eligibility for Medicaid programs vary from state to state. States vary in the income and asset limits for recipients. Usually, a recipient must spend down his/her assets to a pre-determined amount. For example, in California the asset limit is $2,000. If the nursing home resident is married to a spouse who lives outside of a nursing home, the healthy spouse is allowed to keep some assets (for instance, in Colorado the maximum is $87,000).
What is the Medicaid Right to Recovery?
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 0f 1993 (OBRA’93) made significant changes in the rules for Medicaid eligibility for long-term care. One important change involves the state’s ability to recover benefits from the estate of a deceased Medicaid recipient. Property that was exempt during the Medicaid recipient’s lifetime may be seized to reimburse the state for the amount of benefits paid.
 Are there restrictions on transferring assets in order to qualify for Medicaid?
Medicaid has strict rules when it comes to transferring property and assets. If an applicant’s spouse or legal representative of either transfers property within 36 months of applying for Medicaid, the applicant may be ineligible to receive Medicaid benefits for a period of time. The look back period is extended to 60 months for transfers involving thrusts and annuities.
The information above is intended to be a quick reference guide to this program and is not intended to be legal advice. Please refer to www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/consumer.asp for more information.
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