Over views the U.S. Government’s ability to seize your assets to pay for long term health care. Encourages proper estate planning to avoid personal property losses.
Nursing home care is not free, even in county or state operated facilities. Someone, somewhere, has to foot the bill. If you, or your family, does not have resources to pay for the care, Medicaid steps in. While Medicaid is a federal program, funds are allocated to the states for administrative purposes and are subject to state rules and regulations.
People who apply for Medicare aren’t always aware of exactly how the program works, but even more sadly, most people who are forced to apply for Medicare really have no other choice, so it doesn’t matter how it works. By the same token, Medicaid rules have been revised so that if one half of a married couple requires nursing home care, the other spouse doesn’t have to sell the house and live on the street.
Under the most recent Medicaid rulings, when one spouse has to be in a nursing home for 30 days or more, the couple’s assets are assessed and some assets are excluded by virtue of “spousal impoverishment” rules. The couple’s residence is excluded from the asset evaluation, along with household furnishings and personal effects. In some states, the remaining spouse’s IRAs are exempted, as well. The non-ailing spouse is then entitled to half of any remaining assets, subject to minimum and maximum limits, while the other half must be spent on the nursing home care.
In addition, income like Social Security, some pensions, and some interest dividends are subject to “maintenance allowance,” rules designed to allow the healthy spouse enough money to live on. If, for example, the Social Security Income or other pension income is in the remaining spouse’s name, he or she is entitled to keep it for living expenses. In some cases, the spouse at home can receive more than half of the marital assets, particularly if his/her income falls below minimum levels.
If there is no spouse, in many states the individual requiring nursing home care is required to sign over his or her home to the state to reimburse Medicare. When the nursing home stay is not permanent, the Medicaid recipient is allowed to live in the house until death, but cannot pass it on to children or other heirs, because it actually belongs to the state, not to the individual.
Estate planning, particularly if it involves some sort of long-term care insurance, can alleviate or eliminate some of the worries associated with the potential for requiring nursing home care. Talk to your attorney or other estate planner about what can be done to protect your remaining assets if you have to go to a nursing home.
Estate Planning - Real Property Disbursement Problems.
Over views the problem created by evenly splitting an interest in real property between your heirs.
Estate Planning – Protecting your Will’s Integrity
Over views modern day techniques (evidence) one can present to the courts that uphold the decisions the testator dictates in their written last will and testament.
Estate Planning - No Contest Clause in your Will
Over views the consideration of putting a no contest clause into one’s will if they feel the will is going to be heavily contested. Additionally, advises how courts react to such a clause and suggests an alternative consideration.
