Elder Law Answers
Can I Be Liable for a Parent's Nursing Home Bill?
Although a nursing home can?t require a child to be personally liable for their parent's nursing home bill, there are circ...
Read moreCan I Spend Down for Medicaid on an Oxygen Concentrator?
- May 15th, 2024
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.
Learn more about Medicaid's protections for the healthy spouse in this article. You may also want to check out the following:
- Community Spouse Resource Allowance: Protecting a Healthy Spouse From Poverty
- Spending Down Assets to Qualify for Medicaid.
- Other articles on Medicare