While some seniors are able to afford private care, the cost of long-term care can easily wipe out savings of all but the wealthiest families in a matter of years. Those who have planned ahead by purchasing long-term care insurance have a degree of certainty and peace of mind, knowing that they have a lesser need to rely on other sources in the future. Unfortunately, many can’t afford the high cost of long-term care insurance or worse, because of age or medical conditions, cannot qualify for long-term care insurance. If you do have long-term care insurance, you should be aware of what your policy covers. Many policies have high deductibles or provide for only a short period of care in a medical facility. In fact, many who have long-term care insurance still have to resort to Medicaid/TennCare to pay for their care. Medicaid/TennCare Eligibility Medicaid/TennCare, a joint federal-state program, provides medical assistance to low-income individuals residing in the state of Tennessee, including those who are 65 or older, disabled or blind. Medicaid is the single largest payer of nursing home bills in America and serves as the option of last resort for people who have no other way to finance their long-term care. Although Medicaid eligibility rules vary from state to state, federal minimum standards and guidelines must be observed. In short, there are a number of regulations involving look-back periods, income caps, transfer penalties and waiting periods to plan around. Pre-Medicaid/TennCare Planning Far too often, seniors wait until they fall ill and require care to seek the assistance of an attorney. Unfortunately, in waiting for a crisis, seniors and their caregivers often encounter more hurdles for qualification and exorbitant levels of stress during an already difficult time. The Law Office of Virginia W. Griffee assists clients with pre-Medicaid/TennCare planning, developing a long-term plan which seeks to protect assets through traditional estate planning functions (asset protection tools such as trusts, life estates and annuities) while coordinating private insurance, veterans benefits and other resources which may be available to pay for future care, without draining all of the family’s assets. Helping You Qualify for Medicaid/TennCare Even if you haven’t taken time to plan for Medicaid eligibility, there are a number of tools at your disposal to obtain eligibility. The Law Office of Virginia W. Griffee assists clients who are just starting the process and need to qualify immediately. In these situations, we work directly with seniors, caregivers, social workers, care facilities and healthcare providers to identify the best environment for your ongoing care. We work with you to complete the complex Medicaid/TennCare application. During that process, we make sure that you retain the maximum income and total assets allowed under the law. We also advise you, when necessary, on “spending down to qualify” in a meaningful way so as not to waste your hard earned assets but instead benefit you and your loved ones in the manner you wish, as allowed by law. The Law Office of Virginia W. Griffee can help you avoid the financial ruin associated with the high cost of long-term care. Contact us today to learn more about the issues surrounding Medicaid/TennCare eligibility and to begin the planning and application process. Helping You Maintain Medicaid/TennCare The Law Office of Virginia W. Griffee also drafts Special Needs Trusts (a/k/a Supplemental Needs Trusts) to ensure that you qualify and can continue to qualify for Medicaid/Tenncare benefits as discussed in detail under Services, Special Needs Planning (click on it). We also provide guidance to the Trustees of Special Needs Trusts on trust administration to ensure that you maintain your eligibility for Medicaid/TennCare benefits. Our firm also works with personal injury attorneys and clients to ensure that court awards and settlement funds are managed in such manner that you continue to receive the public benefits, including Medicaid/TennCare, to which you are entitled. |