Medicaid vs. Medicare
Medicaid is a federally funded health insurance program for the financially eligible. There is no age restriction to qualify. To be eligible you must meet certain income and asset criteria. If your income or assets exceed the qualifying limits you may still be eligible if you meet one of the many exceptions. If you still exceed the limits, Medicaid Planning can be initiated to ensure your future eligibility should the need arise (sometimes in as little as 30 days!). Many people confuse Medicaid with Medicare. Medicare is a healthcare benefit provided by the federal government to individuals over age 65 or under age 65 and deemed Social Security disabled for at least two years. Medicare covers doctors’ visits, medical tests, x-rays, and care provided in hospitals but has a very limited nursing home benefit (maximum 100 days or less).
Medicaid Planning
Medicaid planning is taking the necessary steps now to ensure that if the need for long-term care (nursing home or assisted living) should arise for you, you will be eligible for Medicaid to pay for it. Medicaid planning requires you follow specific rules that if not followed properly, can disqualify you from benefits for a period longer than you would have to be. Our Medicaid planning program is not a mechanism to give away all of your assets to ensure you qualify for Medicaid, but rather an overall planning strategy that follows the rules of law so you can legally retain what you need to maintain your lifestyle and become eligible for Medicaid without having to lose your lifetime of assets. We invite you to attend one of our Medicaid planning workshops to identify how you can protect all you’ve worked for and still be eligible to receive benefits under federal guidelines.
