How to Qualify for Medicaid: Eligibility and Transfer Rules

More and more states are switching to a managed care model when dealing with Medicaid long-term care patients, a change that has resulted in a loss of services in some cases.

Medicaid 101

While it is illegal for a nursing home to discriminate against a Medicaid recipient, it still happens. To prevent such discrimination, nursing home residents and their families need to know their rights.

Almost all state Medicaid programs will cover some assisted living costs, although there may be a waiting list.

Medicaid 101

One area that causes a lot of confusion regarding Medicaid is the lookback period. What exactly does it mean for applicants? Learning more about it helps to avoid asset transfer penalties when qualifying for benefits.

Medicaid 101

If you transfer assets within five years of applying for Medicaid, you could in fact face a penalty period. During this time, you would not be eligible for Medicaid benefits. An exception does exist, however.

Most long-term care involves assisting with basic personal needs rather than providing medical care.

Medicaid 101

A federal appeals court has ruled that Medicaid officials must accept applicants' short-term annuities, providing more certainty for Medicaid applicants' use of this important planning tool. ...

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on marriage equality means that gay couples living in states that previously did not recognize their marriage will now be covered by Medicaid’s spousal impoverishment protections and asset transfer rules.  ...

There are circumstances in which transferring a house will not result in a Medicaid penalty period, and one of those is if the Medicaid applicant transfers the house to a "caretaker child."  ...

Medicaid 101