When the time comes that you or a loved one needs long-term care, in the home or at a skilled nursing care facility, finding a way to pay for the care needed can be a stressful challenge. Luckily, many people are able to qualify for Medicaid to cover these costs. Let’s take a closer look at the qualification process for Medicaid coverage for long-term care.
The first threshold requirement for Medicaid is that you medically need the care. What qualifies a person for Medicaid is needing assistance with activities of daily living, or ADLs. Examples of ADLs include: bathing, dressing, moving from the bed to a chair, eating, walking and using the restroom. Typically, if you have the medical need for assistance with three or more ADLs, you will qualify as medically needy.
After your doctor has determined that you need assistance, you will have to meet specific income and asset limitations. The dollar amounts assigned to these limitations, as well as what counts as an asset or income, will vary from state to state. For example, in some states an IRA does not count as an asset, while in others it does.
An experienced elder law attorney can help you navigate the qualification process for Medicaid, and help relieve some of the stress of managing your loved ones long-term care needs.
