To qualify for Medicaid long-term care services you have to have limited income and resources. You must also meet other requirements such as:
- age;
- if you are pregnant;
- if you are disabled;
- if you are blind; or
- if you are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant.
In addition, to quality for Medicaid long-term care services you must require a certain amount of assistance with personal care like bathing and dressing called Activities of Daily Living. These rules vary from state-to-state. To see if Medicaid may pay for your long-term care services, you need to find out if you are eligible for the program. You can start by reviewing the Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for long-term care.
How do you apply for Medicaid long-term care services?
To apply for Medicaid for long-term care services, you will have to:
- Fill out an application form
- Provide documentation to verify general and financial requirements
- Go through a functional eligibility assessment.
You may apply for Medicaid coverage or you may designate another person, such as a family member, your attorney, or a friend, to apply for you. If someone else apples for you, that person should be familiar with your situation, be able to answer all eligibility questions, and have access to your financial records. The state may also require a face-to-face interview.
If you own a home, the state may ask you to document the current fair market value of the home and any loans for the home, such as mortgages or equity loans. The state may ask for these documents:
- A current tax bill
- A real estate appraisal
- Copies of your mortgage
If your savings went down a lot within the past five years, the state may ask you to show evidence of what you did with the money. If you are married and in a nursing home, you will also be asked to document your assets when you first entered the nursing home—this establishes how much your spouse is able to keep.
Where do you apply for Medicaid?
All states have local Medicaid eligibility offices where you can file applications. Many states also provide applications at different locations in your community, including Aging and Disability Resource Centers. In some states, you can also apply online.
Visit your State Medical Assistance Office to find out where you can apply for Medicaid benefits.
When should you apply for Medicaid?
The best time to apply for Medicaid depends on your medical situation, your marital status, and the complexity of your finances. If your finances are straightforward, the state may be able to process your application faster.
The Medicaid agency usually has 45 days to process your application. If the application requires a disability determination, the agency can take 90 days.
It may take longer to apply for Medicaid if you do not provide the required documents on time. If Medicaid thinks that you are not cooperating, it may deny your application for “administrative reasons.” If this happens, you will have to start your application over again once you have your documents in hand.
If the Medicaid agency determines that you are eligible, you will receive a letter with your date of eligibility and the amount you must pay toward the cost of your care. Medicaid will review your eligibility status every year. During the yearly review, you will be need to document your income and assets again. The review process is usually simpler than the original application process.
If the Medicaid agency determines that you are not eligible, you will receive a letter that explains the reason for denial. The notice will also explain how you can appeal the decision.
Source: http://www.longtermcare.gov
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