By Herzog Law Firm
Planning for long-term care doesn’t have to mean depleting a lifetime of savings. In a recent segment of Ask the Attorney on Upstate Living, Phillip Vacchio, Esq. of Herzog Law Firm dug into a benefit many families don’t realize they qualify for: Community Medicaid.
What is Community Medicaid?
Community Medicaid is a government-based program designed to help people stay in their own home, whether that’s a house, an apartment, or an independent living setting, while receiving the care they need there. It’s built for people who need help with activities of daily living, including:
- Feeding oneself
- Bathing and toileting
- Dressing
- Ambulating
Once these everyday tasks become difficult to manage alone, Community Medicaid is there to help bring the right level of care into the home.
A Benefit Too Few People Use
Many families don’t know this program exists, and that gap in awareness is costly. People tend to fall into one of two camps: loved ones who feel obligated to become the sole caregiver themselves, or families paying for care entirely out of pocket, assuming they have too much in savings to qualify for any benefits. In most cases, that assumption isn’t true.
Do You Qualify?
Community Medicaid works differently than Medicare. It’s eligibility-based, with specific income and asset thresholds:
- Assets: Roughly $33,000 in non-exempt assets
- Income: Roughly $1,800 per month
Even if you’re over these limits, qualifying can be possible with the right planning:
- There is currently no lookback period for Community Medicaid, so assets can be moved into a trust or to family members to help qualify as soon as the following month.
- For income above the threshold, tools like a pooled income trust can protect that income while still allowing you to qualify.
Why Timing Matters
Being proactive is far better than planning in crisis mode. If a loved one is starting to need more help than they used to, that’s the right moment to start considering these options, even if they’re not quite ready for the benefit itself. In the meantime, other pieces can be put in place, such as powers of attorney, health care proxies, and asset protection planning, so everything is ready when a higher level of care is needed.
Timing matters for a practical reason too: the Community Medicaid application process can take four to six months or more before care is fully in place and running smoothly. Starting early, while care needs are still lower, gives families the time to get everything arranged without added stress.
Take Action Today
Long-term care planning is one of the most stressful life events families go through, and having the right information early makes all the difference.
Call Herzog Law Firm today at (518) 465-7581 or fill out the contact form below to start planning.