For many seniors, the thought of spending their remaining years in a nursing facility is not ideal. While staying in their homes is their ultimate goal, they may need help with day-to-day tasks around the house.
Medicaid benefits can provide for both nursing and in-home care to qualifying applicants, but securing this financial support can be challenging without the help of a dedicated Medicaid attorney. It could benefit you to discuss your options with a Staten Island home care lawyer.
Different benefits come with home care coverage through Medicaid. First, it provides medical care to patients living at home, usually in the form of a home health aide or nurse who is authorized to perform certain types of medical care. Some of the ways these professionals could help include instruction on the use of medical equipment, speech therapy, or nutritional guidance.
Second, benefits can also cover the cost of home attendant services, which could provide for someone’s personal daily needs. Home attendants are not nurses, but they can provide invaluable support involving standard daily tasks. Some of the ways they might help include the following:
Patients with greater needs might also qualify for additional support, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and the administration of medication. The amount of help provided is limited to a specific number of hours each week.
A home care lawyer in Staten Island could provide guidance long before an application for benefits is ever filed. This type of planning is important, as it can provide a person with an opportunity to use their existing assets in a way that does not render them ineligible for Medicaid in the future.
In addition to determining eligibility for benefits, a lawyer could develop a comprehensive estate plan that takes into account current and future needs beyond eligibility for home care.
One of the major pitfalls that comes with Medicaid home care eligibility is the transfer of assets. To prevent a person from giving away their belongings to loved ones in order to immediately qualify for benefits, the law implements something known as a “look back” period.
When an individual applies for home care benefits, any asset transfers the applicant made during this period leading up to their application are scrutinized. Depending on the size and nature of the gifts, the applicant could be temporarily ineligible to seek government benefits through this program.
The potential for ineligibility is one of the major risks that comes with handling this process alone. A home care attorney in Staten Island could set out a long-term plan that allows an individual to use their assets as they see fit without losing out on Medicaid eligibility in the process.
The law surrounding Medicaid benefits is complex and can be difficult to fully understand. What’s more, a single mistake during or before the application process could have long-lasting consequences for you and your family. Let a Staten Island home care lawyer help you improve your chances of a successful Medicaid benefits claim.
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