Long-Term Care and Medicaid Planning

Long-Term Care and Medicaid Planning

One of the most pressing challenges for elders and their families is the high cost of long-term care. When a spouse or family member suffers from a chronic illness or injury such as Alzheimer’s Disease, stroke, dementia, or a broken hip, you may be overwhelmed. Grappling with your loved one’s condition is hard enough, and now you have to figure out what type of care is needed, where it should be provided, and perhaps most challenging of all—how to pay for it.

You may be wondering:

  • Will my spouse and I have to spend down everything we own before we can qualify for Medicaid?
  • Will Medicaid put a lien on our home if we apply for benefits?
  • What happens if we give money to family members before applying for Medicaid?
  • How can we provide for our disabled child if Medicaid requires us to spend down our assets?
  • Can I preserve assets for my spouse after I go on Medicaid?
  • What is an Income Cap Trust, and how can it help my loved one qualify for Medicaid?
  • What are the spousal impoverishment laws, and how can they protect me if my spouse needs long-term care?

The rules governing Medicaid are complex and constantly changing, so great care is required in planning and applying for benefits. This is where Rudolph & Edgel can help.  We can help you, your spouse, or your loved one qualify for Medicaid while minimizing the resource drain that often accompanies the process.

Understanding Long-Term Care & Medicaid Planning

Long-term care is provided in a range of settings, including in-home care, adult foster homes, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. Regardless of setting, however, long-term care is expensive. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the average cost for a month of long-term care in Oregon is $8,784.00.

Many elders and their families are surprised to learn that that Medicare does not cover the costs of long-term care. Medicare will pay for some rehabilitative care in long-term care facilities (for example, therapy to recover from a hip fracture), but only for a very limited time. Once that time period is over, elders and their families often find themselves ill-prepared to handle the cost of ongoing long-term care.

One option to cover the costs of long-term care is Medicaid, a joint federal/state program that provides medical assistance—including long-term care—to individuals who qualify. Although Medicaid is the largest payer of long-term care costs in the country, qualifying for assistance can be difficult. Many elders lack the resources to privately pay the high cost of care, yet they cannot qualify for Medicaid because they have assets or income above the eligibility threshold.

Reach out to Us

Our comprehensive knowledge of the Medicaid eligibility rules in Oregon will help you and your family navigate the complicated maze of rules and regulations while avoiding common Medicaid planning pitfalls. We are well-versed in the legal tools and techniques available to achieve eligibility while protecting resources for spouses and loved ones. We offer you compassion, knowledge, and practical advice to help you protect your loved ones and preserve your assets. Call us today:

(503) 248-9535(503) 248-9535