Why You Should Use an Elder Law Attorney to Help You File a Medicaid Application

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is the program jointly funded by the state and federal government though which many persons receive care at home or in a nursing home. Medicaid is a statewide and state specific program, currently administered through the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

The process of applying for Medicaid is complex and often times confusing. Because Medicaid offers many different programs, the eligibility rules and application processes differ. Having an attorney who has a full and thorough understanding of the benefits available through Medicaid, the rules for eligibility, and the process by which to secure those benefits provides a tremendous advantage to the applicant for Medicaid benefits.

The Medicaid Application Process

Information Needed
Depending upon the program for which you are applying, different information may be required. All Medicaid applications, regardless of benefits sought, require extensive personal documentation and detailed proof of income. Certain programs require proof of assets and 60 months of records for all assets held during that period.

Help with the Application
An experienced Elder Law Attorney can advise you on the benefits available, the process for obtaining the benefits you need, the provisions of the law that might enable your family to protect assets, and the rights that certain family members of the applicant may have.

In Connecticut, it is not required that an attorney assist with the Medicaid application. In fact, you can prepare the application yourself. There are many entities, agencies, individuals, or divisions within hospitals and nursing homes which may offer to prepare and submit the application for you for free or for a reduced fee. However, you must exercise great caution when accepting that help, as those individuals and organizations are not obligated to advise you of your rights and are not permitted to give legal advice or implement legal strategies. As a result, using these services might expose you and your family to risk. Even when using an attorney there can be a risk if that attorney that does not have a comprehensive knowledge of elder law.

Be Wary Of:

• Offers to prepare the Medicaid application free of charge or at a significantly reduced rate- if it’s “too good to be true,” it probably is!  Remember, there is no “free lunch.”
• Persons holding themselves out as attorneys or giving legal advice without confirming they are admitted to the Connecticut Bar and competent in elder law.
• Guarantees of Medicaid eligibility or other government benefits.
• Agencies, individuals, entities, or groups which have as their “sole job” the securing of Medicaid benefits for you.  These entities may not have any liability to you if they fail to secure Medicaid eligibility.

 

Case Studies

Case #1 Client utilizes the services of the in-hospital “Medicaid Enrollment Facilitator when her mother is hospitalized and needs to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility.  Client is grateful for the “free help” and then is horrified to learn after her mother’s death that a lien has been placed on the mother’s home and that the house could have been protected under one of the Medicaid exceptions to the transfer-of-assets rules.  An Elder Law Attorney could have helped them properly transfer and title assets in order to avoid the lien.

Case #2 Client uses a Geriatric Care Manager to assist in preparing the Medicaid application because costs are less than a local attorney.  Application results in significant penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for care due to prior transfers.  Geriatric care manager failed to warn the client or take steps to mitigate penalty period.  If Client had retained an Elder Law Attorney before filing, she would have been advised of mitigation strategies to preserve assets.

Case #3 Client uses independent Medicaid Application Preparer as recommended by nursing home to prepare application for incapacitated husband.  Client is told to “spend down” excess assets on cost of nursing home care and does so.  Client later learns that she was never advised of her legal rights as a spouse and could have pursued other avenues to secure Medicaid for her husband much sooner and avoided an unnecessary spend down of assets.

 

Exposure to Risks When an Elder Law Attorney is Not Used

The law has many nuances and intricacies.  An Elder Law Attorney has the obligation to ensure that you are fully informed of all provisions of the law related to Medicaid and to accurately answer any question you may have.  The Elder Law Attorney does not work for the nursing home.  In fact, the Elder Law Attorney has an ethical duty to advocate for you and your interests.  Not using the services of an Elder Law Attorney could expose you to the following risks:

• Failure to be fully informed of spousal rights.
• Failure to be informed of opportunities for asset protection.
• Incomplete or inaccurate application submission.
• Denial of application due to failure to provide information.
• Failure to be informed of consequences of prior actions.
• Imposition of a penalty period for which mitigation strategies could have been implemented.
• Failure to have a dedicated advocate working with you through the process.
• Failure to fully protect assets and income.
• Failure to be informed of other applicable benefit programs (such as VA pension).