Nursing Home Medicaid for Married Couples Still Negligently Misunderstood

Last week our office received a call from a woman facing the difficult situation of placing her husband in a nursing home for long term care. After a series of strokes and now advanced dementia, she has decided that a nursing home may be the best place for him. He is currently receiving inpatient rehab at a facility, and they have offered him a long term care bed. But she is terrified of the price tag. At $7,688/month, she has no idea how she can afford to pay for his care and take care of herself. She was told that she does not qualify for Medicaid by the nursing home. This couple has a monthly income of $3,557, a house with no mortgage, and liquid assets of $133,600. They each have an IRA with about $78,000 invested and term life insurance with $10,000 in death benefits on each of them. This situation is complicated, but the man could certainly receive Medicaid to help him pay for his care. The rules for Nursing Home Medicaid are tricky, and this is especially true for beneficiaries that have living spouses. It is so important for all providers to know these complicated rules and help families gain access to these well-earned benefits.

We aim to alleviate and prevent the fear and stress felt by families receiving bad information about these important benefits. If you or someone you know has questions about how Medicaid could work for them, please call our office for a complimentary phone consultation at (404) 843-0121.