If you or a loved one need nursing home care or long-term care in the home, the thought of applying for Medicaid to secure that care is daunting. Try Googling “Medicaid Application” and you’ll find thousands of results that are essentially worthless. Here are some points to know, if you are faced with applying for long-term Medicaid to pay for care:
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Dementia and the Importance of Planning for Your Future.
November is Alzheimer’s awareness month, so I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about dementia and the importance of planning for your future. First and foremost, some forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. We have all misplaced our keys or put our wallet in a different place, forgetting momentarily where we left it. When forgetfulness becomes more serious, losing your way while driving in an area you visit frequently; not taking medication because you forgot if you took it or not, it starts to affect your normal daily routine and it’s time to follow up with your doctor.
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Medicaid Denials: Appealing Unfavorable Decisions
The Medicaid application process is difficult and time consuming. The highly complex rules can trip up even the most careful of applicants. Even the county caseworkers who process Medicaid can make mistakes, misunderstand the rules, or even lose your application all together! So, what happens if Medicaid denies your application?
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Consider a Medicaid Compliant Annuity When Facing a Long-Term Care Event
The Medicaid Act permits individuals, who are seeking Medicaid assistance, to pay for nursing home care by purchasing a Medicaid compliant annuity. These annuities can be used to protect a spouse that is still living in the community from poverty or can be used to transfer wealth to loved ones upon death.
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Caregiver Mental Health During COVID-19
AARP recently released findings of a study that analyzed over 236,000 cases of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. The study indicates that up to one-third of survivors suffer from psychiatric or neurological illnesses within six months of infection, with 34% of those further diagnosed with mental health or neurological disorders. The most common conditions were mood and anxiety disorders, but it also identified a higher rate of insomnia, dementia, and even encephalitis.
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Surrogate Decision Making in Mental Health Cases
In many respects, those who suffer from mental health issues fall through the cracks the most – whether that be cracks in the medical system, in public benefits, or in estate planning and guardianship law. People fall through because the system is largely designed to take care of those with physical needs or severe cognitive disorders, not those who look and feel just fine on the outside. Mental health issues are difficult because it isn’t clear when an individual is deemed incapacitated, and without that clarity, they have the right to be free from Probate Court jurisdiction from a Guardianship and can easily revoke or amend a power of attorney to remove someone that is irritating them in that moment. Unfortunately, it’s in those moments that they need surrogate decision makers the most.
Keep reading ...Senior Living Options
On this episode of Elder Law Talks, Janelle Leonard continues her conversation on senior living options, discussing assisted living and nursing home care.
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Do I Need Medicaid If I Have Medicare?
Medicaid and Medicare are the two largest publicly funded health programs in the country, with different missions that often overlap. Medicare provides health coverage to seniors and some individuals with disabilities. Medicaid covers adults and children who cannot afford insurance, or who have health care costs they cannot afford. Often, an individual will be eligible for coverage through both programs. The following blog will describe how Medicare and Medicaid interact. Part one gives an overview of Medicare, what it covers, and what options are available for more coverage. Part two will describe how Medicare and Medicaid work together.
Keep reading ...Elder Law Talks – Senior Living Options
This week on Elder Law Talks, Care Coordinator Janelle Leonard discusses senior living options that are available to you.
Keep reading ...Medicaid for Beginners: 5 Facts about Ohio Medicaid
Everyone has heard of Medicaid. It is one of the largest health insurance providers in Ohio and covers individuals and families who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to buy it. More than 2.9 million people in Ohio get health insurance through Medicaid every year. But did you know that Medicaid is much more than health insurance for the poor? Here are five facts about Medicaid that might surprise you.
Keep reading ...Elder Law Talks – Powers of Attorney
On This Week’s Episode: Powers of Attorney
Elder Law Attorney David Banas breaks down powers of attorney, he discusses two main types and how important they are when caring for loved ones.
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