Once a Nursing Home Resident Qualifies for Medicaid, Are There Any Rules on the Remaining $2,000 in Assets?

Once a patient in a nursing home reduces assets to qualify for Medicaid, what are the regulations on the remaining cash ($2,000 in my state) in the bank account?

The only rules for the remaining $2,000 are that (1) the money must be spent only for the Medicaid beneficiary and (2) it may not exceed $2,000. However, with respect to the second rule, it may exceed $2,000 temporarily because income is not treated as an asset until the following month. For example, suppose a Medicaid beneficiary has $1,500 in the bank and on June 3rd she receives a Social Security payment of $800, bringing the bank balance up to $2,300. This is not a problem as long as the money is spent down so that by June 30^th the balance is back under $2,000.

For information about Medicaid's asset rules, go here: http://www.elderlawanswers.com/medicaids-asset-rules-12016.