Count On Our Firm For Comprehensive Medicaid Planning Help
Medicaid is a critical benefits program that many Americans rely on to be able to afford long-term care as they age. Unfortunately, qualifying for Medicaid can sometimes mean depleting nearly all assets from an estate, leaving nothing to pass along to loved ones. That’s where “Medicaid planning” comes in. It is a term that refers to a wide range of services. Generally speaking, it is any form of assistance for Medicaid applicants. As a branch of elder law, Medicaid planning can encompass everything from assistance with your application to a complete overhaul of your assets.
Unlike the federal program Medicare, Medicaid federal guidelines are administered by individual states. Each state administers its own eligibility determination and establishes local rules for coverage criteria, types of service covered, payment levels, and administrative procedures. Because of the particularities of Arkansas law, it’s important to have a knowledgeable and experienced planning attorney on your side to help you structure your assets. Jurist Law Group, PLLC, has helped countless families in Little Rock and Pulaski County with all of their elder law needs, including Medicaid planning. Together, we can form a tailored and effective plan to protect your present and prepare for your future.
Why Hiring An Attorney Is Wiser Than The DIY Approach
Prospective applicants are not legally required to hire an attorney to file for these important benefits. However, an experienced Medicaid planning attorney can provide a substantial resource along the way.
The rules and procedures for getting Medicaid can be complex and confusing. Failure to understand these rules can cost your family thousands of dollars. Any misstep in the application process can leave you with a denial, a delay, or a loss of benefits compensation. Our attorneys work to make sure that each client’s claim is filed in a way that maximizes their potential benefits.
One of the best ways to ensure that you get the most out of your Medicaid benefits is to start planning early. While a pristine application can provide a favorable review, your assets will ultimately determine your eligibility for benefits.
Let Jurist Law Group, PLLC, create your Medicaid plan and file your application so you can avoid the risk of making costly mistakes, delaying eligibility, and wasting thousands of dollars in the process.
What Our Firm Can Do For You
If your family member needs to be admitted to a nursing home, it doesn’t mean that they have to spend every dollar they have before receiving Medicaid assistance. We know the rules inside and out, and we position the estate to benefit from those rules and to ensure assets are protected. Our experienced attorneys are here to handle all your Medicaid paperwork and lift the heavy burden of the application process from you and your family’s shoulders. When you hire our firm, we will:
- Take care of all the paperwork and file the application for you
- Lift the burden of dealing with the Medicaid bureaucracy off family members
- Interface with Medicaid, prepare and prosecute your application, and take the hassle out of getting the benefit
- Take the burden off of family members and personally walk the application through Medicaid
- Provide pre-qualification planning and continued advice throughout the entire process
- Review your situation and tailor the best solution for you and your loved ones
- Walk the family through every step of the process
We look at each individual case and create a tailored Medicaid plan to protect and minimize the liquidation of assets. We take every opportunity to ensure that your Medicaid plan is structured in such a way to get the most out of your application.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid Planning
Below, we’ve provided answers to some of the Medicaid planning questions clients most often ask.
How can I restructure assets to meet financial eligibility limits?
There are a variety of strategies that we can use to meet Medicaid eligibility requirements. Some of these may include, but are not limited to:
- Medicaid asset protection trusts
- Transfer of ownership to family members
- Spousal transfers
- Irrevocable funeral trusts and prepaid funeral plans
It’s important to speak with an attorney to determine the options available to you and the best course of action based on your needs and goals.
What is a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust?
Many people find themselves in a difficult financial situation regarding Medicaid eligibility. Health care costs continue to rise. Medicaid trusts are used to restructure the assets of people who have too much to qualify for these essential benefits but not enough to afford the care they need. Whether you are interested in forming a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, our attorneys are here to help.
When should we apply for Medicaid?
The time to apply is the point at which you need long-term care, as you can’t apply for Medicaid before that point. In Arkansas, Medicaid can be used for home-based care plus some limited Medicaid for assisted living. Of course, all states have Medicaid for nursing home care.
Is it too late to save resources if a loved one is already in the nursing home?
It’s never too late to save money. At a minimum, we can usually always save at least 50% or more of your estate, even after entering a nursing home. If, however, you wanted to save 100% of your money, you should have started planning five years before you needed Medicaid (through a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust). You can give assets away, but any assets you give are counted for five years against you for Medicaid purposes.
What Is Medicaid recovery? Can I avoid it?
This is an attempt by the state to recover Medicaid benefits paid to an enrollee by making a claim against the probate estate of a deceased claimant. We discuss this in greater detail in a post on our blog.
Let Us Start Preparing Your Medicaid Plan Today
Is the Medicaid planning and application process stressing you out? If you are seeking the help of an experienced Medicaid planning attorney, don’t hesitate to contact our office for a complimentary consultation. Our senior attorney D. Kimbro Stephens is ready to help you through even the most complicated Medicaid claims with ease. You can contact our office in Little Rock, Arkansas, by calling 501-400-7355 or by visiting our contact page.