As we have discussed several times in our blog (here and here), Georgia has an “income cap” that is currently set at $2,250/month for nursing home Medicaid eligibility (as well as the elderly and disabled waiver program). This means that anyone with over $2,250/month of income…
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been married for 50 years. About six years ago, Mrs. Smith began showing signs of dementia. At first, Mr. Smith refused to acknowledge that there was any problem, but their children and church family finally convinced him to take her…
It is not illegal to plan for nursing home expenses and to work with the rules given by our federal and state government to access available resources. It is, however, illegal to hide assets from the government in order to qualify for Medicaid. The asset…
“Can’t I just put Mama’s assets in a trust and then apply for Medicaid?” We hear this question maybe weekly. Unfortunately for these families, qualifying for Medicaid is not that easy. Medicaid Asset Limits In Georgia, you cannot own more than $2,000 of countable assets…
To qualify for nursing home Medicaid, applicants must show that they have a limited amount of countable assets. These rules can be very confusing, and most families worry that their loved one cannot qualify for Medicaid. Currently, Georgia residents must have less than $2,000 in…
Medicaid is a means-tested, government-provided health insurance benefit. It is the largest payer of nursing home care in Georgia. It is also commonly misunderstood. For instance, many people believe that they may have too much income for Medicaid. It is true that Georgia has an…
I am still so surprised by how much misinformation there is about Medicaid’s Look Back Period. Is it 3 years? Is it 30 months? What exactly is the Medicaid Look Back Period? As we all know, Medicaid is a means-tested program that provides health…
It is true that Medicaid is intended to be health insurance for the very poor. It is also true that Medicaid has become the default long-term care insurance payer for millions of middle class families. In the Metro Atlanta area, nursing home costs can run…
It is evident during this National Public Health Week, that Alzheimer’s is the most under-recognized threat to public health in the 21st century, as proclaimed by Dr. David Satcher, former U. S. Surgeon General and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director (CDC). In…
The 2018 Legislative Session in Georgia has ended. Listed below are outcomes regarding issues affecting seniors, as reported by the Alzheimer’s Association National Office, alz.org SB 444—Establish the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan (GARD) Advisory Council—Senator Renee Unterman and Representative Eddie Lumsden. This bill…