- April 15, 2024
Medicaid Planning Lawyer Hilliard, Ohio
Your Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid Planning Lawyer
The Jarvis Law Office helps Hilliard, Ohio residents qualify for Medicaid to pay for long-term care. Get the legal help you need.
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Medicaid Planning In Hilliard, Ohio
The need for long-term care often arises, which can be expensive. When the time comes that you require assistance, it’s essential to have a financial plan in place. Medicaid planning is the key to achieving this. Our Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid planning attorney can assist you in qualifying for the program without jeopardizing your assets. As a result, you can still pass on your assets to your beneficiaries while ensuring you receive the necessary care.
Starting Medicaid planning at least five years before you expect to need care is a wise decision. Since you can’t predict precisely when that might be, it’s never too early to begin. Reach out to our Hilliard Medicaid planning attorney today for a free consultation.
Medicaid Eligibility
Medicaid will review your application to determine your eligibility. To be eligible, you must:
- Be disabled or 65 or older
- Meet the asset requirements
- Meet the income requirements
Your Ohio Medicaid planning lawyer can help you meet the income and asset requirements. With the right strategy, you can transfer the assets and income out of your estate while still benefiting from it.
Safeguarding Your Estate: Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts
Many individuals opt for Medicaid asset protection trusts to qualify for the program. Assets transferred into the trust are no longer part of your estate and do not count toward the program’s asset limit.
However, it’s vital to be aware of Medicaid’s five-year lookback period from the date of program application. When you submit your application, all transfers made within the past five years will be reviewed and considered part of your estate. Therefore, it’s essential to promptly consult with a Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid planning lawyer to begin the estate planning process.
Secure Your Future: Compliant Annuities and Medicaid Planning
Are annuities a significant part of your revenue stream? If yes, it’s essential for a Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid planning lawyer to inspect them for adherence to Medicaid rules; non-adherence may result in the funds impacting your eligibility or limiting your benefits.
Approved Medicaid annuities are characterized by being non-transferable, unchanging, and solely lasting during your life. Furthermore, you must organize for the money to be returned to Ohio’s state coffers upon your departure. Consult with one of Jarvis Law’s trusted Medicaid planning attorneys if you wish to incorporate Medicaid-compliant annuities in your estate planning process.
Understanding Income and Asset Thresholds for Medicaid Eligibility
Medicaid income and asset limits may vary over time, so it is best to check with the Medicaid website for the most up-to-date information. However, as of 2021, Medicaid qualification hinged on specific financial thresholds. The monthly income limit for individuals was $2,382, with assets capped at $2,000. When both spouses applied, the income limit expanded to $4,764 per month, and the asset limit was $3,000. If you find yourself exceeding these limits, there’s no need to fret—our Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid planning attorney is here to assist. Consult with our lawyer today to explore how effective strategies, such as irrevocable trusts, can pave the way for your Medicaid eligibility.
What Constitutes Income for Medicaid Eligibility Purposes?
In determining whether you’re eligible for Medicaid or not, the government calculates all forms of money that reach you as income – particularly pension revenues, social security entitlements, and stock dividends, among others. Should there be any uncertainty concerning your level of earnings, turn to a Jarvis Law Medicaid planning attorney for guidance on the matter; they’ll go through pertinent aspects of your finances before suggesting ways to meet criteria set forth by Medicaid regulators.
7 Medicaid Myths In Hilliard, Ohio
Myth 1: You Must Give Up All Your Assets to Qualify for Medicaid
Ohio Medicaid eligibility does not require depleting all your assets. Although strict asset limits exist, there are legal ways to protect your assets and qualify for Medicaid benefits with a proper Medicaid plan.
With the help of an experienced Hilliard, Ohio elder law attorney, you can preserve assets and avoid spend-downs and home liens, ensuring your assets remain yours to control. We know how much you have invested in your future and will help ensure that you — not the government – choose what happens to your assets.
Myth 2: Transferring Assets to Loved Ones Disqualifies You from Medicaid
Asset transfers are indeed subject to strict Medicaid rules. However, using proper Medicaid planning strategies, you can transfer them within the allowable time frame. You can achieve Medicaid eligibility without risking your loved ones’ inheritance.
Ohio requires a five-year “look-back period,” meaning that transfers made within five years of your Medicaid application may incur penalties. That’s why it is never too early to start your Medicaid planning. A proactive approach ensures your preparedness and protection when you need long-term care.
Myth 3: You Must Sell Your Home to Qualify for Medicaid
Let us put your mind at ease: the prospect of losing your home to qualify for Medicaid is largely a myth. Medicaid often considers a primary residence an exempt asset, allowing you to simultaneously retain your cherished home and Medicaid benefits for long-term care. The only catch? The home equity value must remain under a designated threshold, and you must show a desire to return to the residence if your health permits.
If you’re single, the home exemption applies to you as long you maintain your primary residence. Married couples can take advantage of an unlimited home exemption if one spouse continues to live in the home. Medicaid offers additional provisions for those caring for disabled children.
Are you feeling overwhelmed? A Hilliard, Ohio elder law attorney with experience in Medicaid planning can help you navigate the Medicaid rules and your unique circumstances to ensure your beloved home remains safe and sound.
Myth 4: If You Have Medicare, You Have Coverage for All Your Healthcare Needs
Many people wrongly believe that Medicare covers all their healthcare needs. However, while Medicare covers many services, it only covers the cost of long-term care for 100 days—if the person enrolled in Medicare meets specific requirements.
Conversely, Medicaid covers long-term care services for those who qualify, a vital resource for seniors who require ongoing care.
Myth 5: If You Receive Medicaid, Your Spouse Will Lose Everything
Ohio’s spousal impoverishment rules safeguard your loved one’s financial stability, designed to protect the well-being of the “at-home” partner when their spouse needs long-term care. These regulations allow the community spouse to hold onto a specific portion of income and assets, ensuring they’re well-supported while their partner benefits from Medicaid.
Don’t navigate this complex process alone. An experienced Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid attorney can share savvy asset transfer advice to avoid Medicaid penalties; provide income allocation assistance to maintain the community spouse’s quality of life; and offer individualized estate planning strategies, including wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents.
Myth 6: Ohio Medicaid Only Covers Nursing Home Care
Ohio’s Medicaid program is a comprehensive care solution for eligible seniors, offering home and community-based service waivers and traditional nursing home coverage. The PASSPORT waiver program helps preserve assets and independence by providing long-term services seniors need without resorting to institutionalization. However, without proactive planning with the help of an experienced Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid attorney, you could face high long-term care costs, expensive spend-downs, or loss of assets.
Myth 7: After You Die, Medicaid Will Seize Your Home
Ohio’s Medicaid Estate Recovery Program seeks to recover funds from deceased individuals who received benefits. However, creating a trust can safeguard your family home and assets against possible recovery attempts. To ensure proper protection, consult an experienced and knowledgeable Hilliard, Ohio Medicaid attorney about your estate planning needs and goals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Elder law is a legal specialization focusing on issues that affect the aging population. This includes areas like Medicaid planning, estate planning, and long-term care planning. Elder law attorneys assist families in understanding and navigating these complex areas, offering guidance to protect their life savings and ensure they receive the benefits they’re entitled to.
An elder law attorney can provide invaluable assistance in Medicaid planning. Elder law attorneys often have deep knowledge of the Medicaid rules and eligibility requirements and can guide clients through the Medicaid application process. Their job is to help seniors and their families protect their savings while ensuring they get necessary medical care and services.
Medicaid covers the cost of nursing home care for eligible individuals. However, the rules around Medicaid eligibility can be complex. Job and family services or elder law attorneys can assist families in understanding these rules and applying for Medicaid assistance.
Yes, with proper Medicaid planning and the assistance of an elder law attorney with Jarvis Law, it’s possible to protect your life savings. This might involve strategies such as setting up trusts or simply giving assets to your children before applying for Medicaid. Getting professional guidance before making such decisions is crucial, as there are strict rules about asset transfers.
A community spouse refers to a healthy spouse living in the community while their partner requires long-term care in a nursing home. In terms of Medicaid, certain protections are in place to prevent the community spouse from becoming impoverished. An elder law firm can provide guidance on these rules and help protect the financial well-being of the community spouse.
Please note that the information provided here is general in nature and should not be considered legal advice. It is recommended to consult with an attorney from Jarvis Law Office to obtain personalized advice based on your specific circumstances.
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