We Serve Clients in the New York Capital District, Albany County and the Surrounding Area
Sudden Changes and Big Decisions
Change is life’s only constant. Sometimes these changes strike without warning. If you or a loved one has experienced a sudden illness or serious accident, you understand how abruptly everything can change. Are you or a loved one suddenly in need of nursing home care? Finding and affording quality care on short notice can be stressful and draining. We can help you determine the best options for care and how to qualify for Medicaid to help finance them.
Long-term Care: Counting the Cost
Long-term care is expensive, and these costs only continue to increase as baby boomers age. Although the range varies depending on where you live, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the annual cost of care will double in the next 20 years. With improved medical care, the average life span of adults also is increasing; this translates into more years of care at increasingly higher rates. Without some sort of financial assistance, these costs could be financially devastating. In fact, your entire life savings could be quickly depleted within a few years of needing long-term care. This is where Medicaid can help.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program to assist those with low income and limited resources. While Medicare provides very limited long-term care coverage, Medicaid is much more extensive. However, because of its restrictions, qualifying for Medicaid can be extremely difficult. But paying for a nursing home without it could be all but impossible.
The Medicaid Maze
Although Medicaid requirements vary from state to state, they all share one common element: complexity. Each state specifies a maximum allowed income for individuals and couples in order to qualify for Medicaid. Also, the applicant’s total assets cannot exceed a specified amount called the Individual Resource Allowance, which is consistently very low. Determining how to pay for the extremely high cost of long-term care or how to navigate the challenges that a Chronic Care Medicaid application may present adds additional stress to an already difficult situation. The team at Rowlands, LeBrou & Griesmer PLLC is here to guide you through the placement process and ensure that all available planning techniques to preserve your families hard earned assets are utilized to the greatest extent possible.
We hear all too often that your family member never did long range planning and people believe that everything will be lost to the cost of care or Medicaid, but it is NEVER TOO LATE. Don’t rely on free services contracted for by the hospital or nursing home to file your Medicaid application for you. Contact us TODAY to determine what planning may be available for your situation.
Most placements for nursing home care result from a hospital stay. Upon being discharged from the hospital, it is likely that your loved one will need rehab. For most seniors, rehab will take place within a nursing home. Families are frequently led to believe that 100 days of rehab will be paid for by insurance and that their family member will return home upon the completion of rehab. The truth is that there is no guarantee of any rehab days as they are dependent on the patients’ progress and cooperation. At any time insurance coverage could terminate and at that point the expense of nursing home care becomes your responsibility. The time to call us is when you find your family member hospitalized and discussions about rehab start. Do not wait to contact us. The sooner we start the Medicaid crisis planning process, the more assets we may be able to protect.
The Medicaid Qualification Process = Legally Protecting the Maximum Amount the Law Allows.
This is only a brief and oversimplified review of a few Medicaid rules, of which there are myriad more. Navigating them on your own could be a nightmare at best and subject you to penalties at worst. Fortunately, though, our experienced professionals can guide you through the Medicaid maze. We can advise you throughout the application process, ensuring that you retain the maximum income and total assets allowed by law.
Conclusion
Seek appropriate counsel before you apply for and seek to qualify for Medicaid. We can give you – and your family – peace of mind during a difficult and uncertain time. When dealing with Medicaid, legal advice is something you cannot afford to go without.
Beyond Medicaid Crisis Planning
At Rowlands, LeBrou & Griesmer, we are able to support you beyond your Medicaid crisis planning matters. From helping with a real estate matter, to defending you in litigation, to protecting your business interests, the strength of our team is the answer to your many legal needs.
When You Are Ready
When you are ready to schedule a consultation regarding Medicaid crisis planning, please call or complete the Request a Consultation form.
