Many families find themselves in this predicament, not knowing where to turn for assistance to help pay for the extraordinary cost of long-term care. There is help, and it is in the form of Medicaid.
Currently, Florida provides individuals who are 65 years or older and who meet the qualifications of two different programs that can significantly defray the cost of long-term care either at home, in an assisted living facility, or even in a skilled nursing facility (nursing home). Those programs are:
- Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers
- Institutional Care Program (ICP)
Using legal- and government-approved planning strategies, many families find that, despite their belief or what they have been told, they can actually qualify for and receive the benefits that Medicaid offers without having to create a five-year look-back period. This allows savings and other assets to be used to better their loved one’s care.
In the words of one court, “No agency of the government has any right to complain about the fact that middle-class people confronted with desperate circumstances choose [to do Medicaid asset protection planning] when it is the government itself that has established the rule that poverty is a prerequisite to the receipt of government assistance in the defraying of the costs of ruinously expensive, but absolutely essential medical treatment.”
Medicaid Program Planning And Process
If you want to learn more about these programs, we can help you. With our experience, we can guide your family through the Medicaid planning and process to make a significant difference in your life or the lives of your loved ones.
We can provide answers to vexing questions such as:
- Is there anything that can help me pay for care for my mom or dad while they are at home and need assistance?
- What if my dad needs to move into an assisted living facility? Is there any program that can help pay for this?
- My parents have some money – does that mean they can’t qualify for Medicaid? And if they get Medicaid, will they lose their home?
- Assisted living facilities and home health care can cost almost $5,000 a month. Nursing homes can cost $8,000 to $10,000 a month, and Medicare doesn’t pay. Is there anything that can help reduce those costs? Isn’t there a five-year look-back period?
Talk To An Attorney Who Can Help
Attorney Heidi Friedman is here to make a positive difference in your Medicaid-related legal issue. To arrange a consultation with an experienced elder law attorney in Coral Springs who can serve clients throughout South Florida, call our law office at (954) 866-1055 or contact us online.
