Medicaid Planning and Advance Care Planning in Sharon, MA
The Importance of Advance Care Planning
Planning for the future and making sure you and your loved ones are taken care of requires a map and a knowledgeable guide. At Estate & Elder Law Advisory, we’re here to help seniors in Sharon, Massachusetts, find the best path forward in ensuring access to quality care and financing long-term care solutions, while also protecting family assets.
What Is Medicaid Planning?
Medicaid planning is a financial and legal strategy to ensure eligibility for Medicaid so it can help cover your long-term care costs without having to use up all your savings. Since Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care, your main choices for covering these costs are through Veterans’ Benefits, Medicaid (MassHealth), or using your own money (Private Pay).
Without some sort of financial assistance, long-term care costs could be financially devastating. In fact, your entire life savings could be quickly depleted within a few years of needing long-term care. This is where Medicaid can help.
Understanding the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare provides very limited long-term care coverage, and will only pay for short stays in skilled nursing facilities after a hospital visit, but not the longer stays that many seniors need.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program to assist those with low income and limited resources and is much more extensive in long-term care coverage. However, because of its restrictions, qualifying for Medicaid, or MassHealth, can be extremely difficult. But paying for a nursing home without it could be all but impossible.
MassHealth Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for MassHealth is a puzzle of income, assets, and medical needs, with pieces that must fit perfectly for both individuals and couples. The rules are as varied as the individuals they serve, tailored to provide support while ensuring fairness and accessibility. Like other states, Massachusetts specifies a maximum allowed income for individuals and couples in order to qualify for Medicaid benefits. Also, the applicant’s total assets cannot exceed a specified amount called the personal needs allowance (PNA), which varies based on factors like the household size, income, and residency type. If the applicant is married, the process becomes more complicated based on whether the spouse is also receiving long-term care services.
Why Medicaid Planning Matters for Seniors
With the cost of care so high, Medicaid planning is key to making sure you can get the care you need without losing all your money and assets or leaving the healthy spouse without any means to care for him or herself. Our caring elder law team helps you plan at any stage in the process whether you anticipate needing services later in life or if you have an emergency need for nursing care arise.
How We Can Help
Making Sure You Qualify for MassHealth: Our team, led by Sharon Elder Law Attorney Artika Angel, knows all the ins and outs of MassHealth. We can help you understand what you need to do to qualify.
Helping with MassHealth Applications: We’re here to guide you through the MassHealth application to ensure that you meet all of the requirements and provide the correct documentation. If your MassHealth application is denied or delayed, our elder law team can help you appeal the decision or address any issues that may have caused the delay.
Protecting Your Assets: Estate & Elder Law Advisory helps you develop a strategy to protect your assets while accessing the necessary healthcare services. By blending estate and Medicaid planning, our team helps keep your savings and property safe while getting the care you need.
Our legal team can advise you throughout the application process, ensuring that you retain the maximum income and total assets allowed by law.
Plan Early with Our Elder Law Team
Seek appropriate elder law counsel before you apply for and seek to qualify for MassHealth. Navigating the complexities of government healthcare programs can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to applying for Medicaid. Medicaid planning and securing long-term care solutions are complex, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Book a call with our office today for personalized and compassionate guidance to protect your future and well-being.
