1250 E. Sherwood Drive
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501
Phone: (970) 243-8250 ♦ Fax: (970) 241-1144
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Baird B. Brown Clara Brown Shaffer Shauna C. Clemmer Daniel F. Fitzgerald
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"Accumulating wealth is one thing. Preserving it is another. Let our family help yours."
Special Report
2024 Medicaid Long-Term Care Planning Guide
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Long term Care Sources of Payment
Private Pay
*$9,479.95 average per month in skilled care statewide
Medicare
* Covers only medically necessary skilled nursing facility or home health care for a limited time per spell of illness
* Part A Hospital Insurance: no premium if more than 40 quarters worked; $278.00 premium per month if 30-39 quarters worked; $505.00 premium per month if less than 30 quarters. The coinsurance per day for each benefit period in the hospital for days 61-90 is $400.00, and for days 91 and beyond the copy is $800.00 per day
* Part B Medical Insurance; The standard monthly premium is $174.70. There is an annual deductible of $226.00 per year.
* Doesn’t pay for custodial care
* 100% cost coverage for the first first 20 days for skilled nursing facility and $0 for the first 60 days in hospital.
* $204.00 patient co-pay per day for days 21 through 100 for skilled nursing facility stay each benefit period (spell of illness)
Veterans Benefits
* Long term benefits generally provided only if you have a service-connected disability
* VA facilities (or contracted facilities) and must be receiving VA benefits
* May provide some home health care
* Co-payments may apply
Long Term Care Insurance
* Coverage and cost depends upon policy terms
* Helps pay the cost of custodial care such as housing, bathing, eating and dressing
* Doesn’t pay rehab costs
* Hybrid policies may provide a death benefit
Medicaid
* State and Federal government program that generally pays for certain health services and nursing home care for older people with low incomes and limited assets.
* Provides financial assistance in varied amounts for care in skilled nursing, assisted living and private home
* Five Criteria for Eligibility
1) Health- must pass a health screen with a ULTC 100.2 exam to demonstrate need for care
2) Residency- must be a Colorado Resident
3) Income- applicant income must be below $2,742.00 per month; if it’s above, but below the average cost of care in the region ($9,124.00 for Mesa, Delta, Garfield and Montrose counties) an “income cap” trust can be established; long-term care insurance benefits don’t count as income; and applicant can keep $105.56 of his or her income for personal needs
4) Personal Assets- program allows the applicant to keep certain limited assets such as an interest in a residence (with a home equity value below $1,071,000; $2,000 of resources, such as cash; burial spaces and plans; life insurance policy with less than $1,500 in cash value; an automobile (of unlimited value) used to transport the applicant and personal effects. All other assets are deemed to be “countable” and could cause the applicant to be ineligible for Medicaid benefits
5) Transfers prohibited- giving away assets will cause a period of ineligibility to exist during which Medicaid benefits will not be paid; all asset transfers within 5 years preceding the filing of an application will be counted, and the application should only be filed when the applicant is otherwise eligible for benefits
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Protection for the Community Spouse (CS) Rules where Applicant is Married
Resources
* CS may keep a resource allowance (CSRA) of up to $154,140.00
* Post-eligibility CS assets are treated separately from applicant
Income
* CS may keep up to a maximum of $3,853.50 of the couple’s income. The basic allowance is $2,465.00
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Planning for the CS
* CS likely to need a new estate plan to protect his or her assets in the event he or she predeceases the institutionalized spouse (IS)
* CS should assess his or her own planning for long-term care
* Consider post-eligibility gifting by CS
* MMMNA standard Shelter Allowance of $739.50
Medicaid Planning Opportunities
* Disability (d4a) Trust-shelter assets of those disabled and under 65; disabled beneficiary is sole beneficiary during life, CDHCPF (Colorado agency who administers the Medicaid program) must be beneficiary on death of disabled applicant to extent of benefits paid
* Pooled Trust- Trusts for a group of beneficiaries who are disabled
* Conversion of Countable assets to Exempt assets; buying residence, burial plans, paying down a mortgage, etc.
* Conversion of Countable assets to Income–purchase of Medicaid qualified annuity
* Gifting of assets can be effective provided they are properly structured and timed
* Trusts created by a third party for a disabled individual are not deemed countable
* Personal Service Contract can remove Countable assets and provide for care by caregiver
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Estate Recovery Program
* Assets owned by applicant on death are subject to recovery in the applicant’s estate to the extent of benefits received
* Avoiding Estate recovery requires careful planning but may be done through use of joint tenancy and payable on death accounts if properly structured
Mental Capacity
* Critical to do planning while individuals have mental capacity
* Only court can determine capacity
* Without capacity it may be necessary to involve a court in appointing a conservator or guardian
Advance Directives
* Financial power of attorney
* Medical power of attorney (health care proxy)
* Living will
* Do-not-resuscitate order
* Extremely important to have in place to be able to assist in planning
When not to consider Medicaid
* If you have sufficient assets to private pay
* If you don’t like relying on public assistance
Cautionary notes about Medicaid planning
* Rules are constantly changing and the rules today may not be the same as when you actually apply
* There may be tax implications to different planning techniques which you should consider
* The CDHCPF looks upon planning for public benefits under the Medicaid program with very critical eyes and will deny eligibility where at all possible. Because of this there is risk to undertaking Medicaid planning as there can be no guarantee you will be approved and thus your planning may be unsuccessful
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing Operational Memorandum
* Annually, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing publishes an Operational Memorandum. This Memorandum sets forth the 2023 cost of living adjustments for various programs including SSI, Home Maintenance allowance, Patient Payments, Personal Needs allowance, Spousal Protection, Community Spouse, CSRA, Home Equity Allowance and other important numbers which are adjusted annually.
* To find the Operational Manual go here.
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Nursing Home Resident Rights
The US Department of Health and Human Services says it best on their website.
Your rights include:
* Respect: You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect
* Services and Fees: You must be informed in writing about services and fees before you enter the nursing home
* Money: You have the right to manage your own money or to choose someone else you trust to do this for you
* Privacy: You have the right to privacy, and to keep and use your personal belongings and property as long as it doesn’t interfere with the rights, health, or safety of others
* Medical Care: You have the right to be informed about your medical condition, medications, and to see your doctor. You also have the right to refuse medications and treatments.
For assistance with nursing home rights call your Nursing Home Ombudsman or ask the nursing home to contact him or her for you.
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