Elder Law Answers
Will Medicaid Require Funds in a Wife's IRA to Be Spent Down?
My sister-in-law has a considerable amount in her IRA. Her husband is in an assisted living facility and she is concerned...
Read moreDoes a Purchase for Myself Count in Spending Down So My Husband Qualifies for Medicaid?
- January 20th, 2015
Q
My husband is in the hospital for assessment with eventual placement in a nursing home. We have $5,180 in checking and no other assets. I see he can have only $2,000 in assets to qualify for Medicaid. To get the amount closer to $2,000, can I buy a portable oxygen concentrator for my own health needs? The concentrator costs $2,695.
A
Yes, you can spend the money as your propose. However, Medicaid's asset limit is significantly higher for you, so you can simply transfer the funds into your name and your husband will be eligible for Medicaid. You might also want to see if Medicare will pay for your oxygen concentrator.
For more on Medicaid's protections for the healthy spouse, click here and here.
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For more on spending down assets to qualify for Medicaid coverage, click here.
For more about Medicare's coverage, click here.
Last Modified: 01/20/2015
