Joe recently learned that his mother, Lillian, is applying for Medicaid. She lacks the funds and insurance to cover the cost of her 24/7 nursing care. Lillian was suddenly thrown into a world of procedures and terms that she did not understand. Joe felt a little helpless himself. His mother needs Medicaid and he does not what he can do to help her.
Help with the Medicaid Application Process
The Medicaid application process is complicated, complex, and frustrating. It’s also necessary. Medicaid is the largest payer of nursing home costs in the United States. In addition, a majority of people age 65 plus will need long-term care.
Joe can help Lillian find the right Medicaid program. For example, she probably needs either Medicaid for the Elderly and Disabled or Medicaid in the Nursing Home. He can read over the eligibility requirements and find the right application. They can apply online or using a paper application. Then, he can help her with one of the most difficult parts of the application process: finding the documents that go with the application.
Help Gather Supporting Documents
Medicaid requires a long list of supporting documents some spanning the 60 months prior to application, including:
Bank statements, annuities, life insurance policies, promissory notes, loans, property deeds, Social Security card, power of attorney, Will, trusts, long-term care insurance policy, Medicare card and Part D policies, just to name a few.
As Joe started helping Lillian gather documents, he was grateful that his mother was so organized. Many of the documents they needed were filed at her home. Other records required them to contact banks, financial institutions, and so on. Lillian signed a durable power of attorney that allowed Joe to get some records for her.
Help Find an Alabama Medicaid Attorney
It helps to have someone on your side who knows how the Medicaid system works. If an application is denied, naturally the applicant’s benefits are delayed. And, if they have an immediate need for Medicaid funds to cover their care, well, someone has to pay for it. The applicant or family members may be forced to pay substantial amounts for long-term care that could have been covered by Medicaid. That’s why it is so important to get the application right the first time.
Joe found a good elder law attorney for Lillian. In addition to helping get Lillian’s Medicaid application together, they were able to handle other estate planning issues:
- They set up a Miller Trust to handle monthly income in excess of Medicaid resource limits,
- Prepared and signed a durable power of attorney and health care power of attorney, and
- Helped Joe get his own estate planning and incapacity planning in place.
Sometimes You Just Need a Helping Hand
The application process for Medicaid is a difficult path for most people to navigate. The attorneys atMiller Estate and Elder Law use their skills and experience to make the experience a little less difficult.
For a free consultation with an experienced Alabama attorney, contact us at 256-251-2137 or use our convenient Contact Form. We have offices in Anniston and Birmingham and serve clients in Gadsden, Hoover, Talladega, Vestavia Hills, and surrounding areas.
