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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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You really need to talk to your State's Medicaid eligibility office. Every state is different. There are usually spousal provisions but if the IRA is in her name it could be considered a resource.
IRA is a resource. But imho you need to look at the bigger picture... Realize that dealing with Medicaid for couples is going to be way WAY more complex than for an individual widow or widower. You as a CS “community spouse” should not ever make yourself impoverished for her to go onto & be eligible for LTC NH Medicaid, which is I’m assuming the goal to get her qualified for. But how to do that to best advantage imo needs to be discussed with elder law atty experienced with CS / NH spouse situation. Not diy. Why......
Well Hopefully you have NOT yet applied for Medicaid for her. Reason being is Medicaid for couples does a “snapshot” day to which all assets (your, hers, combo) are affixed to. So should you need to move $, it needs to get done before snapshot day. Snap is usually fixed to date the application is signed.
What I mean by move $ is $ go to the legit items allowed...... pay off / down on mortgage; turn in your 2 cars to get 1 newer more dependable one (Medicaid only allows for 1, yes Tasha one vehicle, most couples have 2); pay forward as many items now for this year....like insurances, utilities, service providers (AC guy that comes twice a yr or yard guy who comes every 3 weeks); update legal; do a preneed funeral & burial for you both within Medicaid limits (FH usually know what this amt is, likely has a max of 8k or so each). If you all need dental, get it done & paid for now. This is all about lowering the asset base. Why.......
For CS (that’s you - the living in the home “community” spouse), Medicaid allows you to retain assets. $ Amount varies by state as Medicaid is uniquely administered by each state under overall federal guidelines. By & large $122k in nonexempt assets plus exempt assets of a homestead (usually 550k max value for most states) and one car. So if combined assets go over $122k, you will have to spend down to the magical 122k. (This is unlike individuals LTC NH Medicaid which for most states have a max of 2k in nonexempt assets.) You have to know exactly what CS rules are for your state, which is best done by atty as your likely overwhelmed in day to day caregiving & rightly so. Btw I’m not an atty.
But CS situations also different in 2 other mucho importante ways: - your income is not a factor for her LTC Medicaid eligibility. Only her monthly income (like her SS or pension) counts towards her required co pay or SOC share of cost required to be paid by her to NH ea month. If you find that even after paying off stuff, your still like 100/200k over the magical 122 large, you might perhaps be able to shift excess assets into a SPIA for you, as the $ paid by the SPIA would be income to you solo. SPIA for a CS when medicaid involved is not a DIY as it must be Medicaid COMPLIANT (not just Medicaid eligible or allowed) and that is speciality underwriting. It is not, NOT, at all your typical annuity that anyone with an insurance license can tout to sell. Personally I do not like annuities as they tend to be sold to to gullible elders with fear factor (“gov mint gonna take yur $” or “avoid probate” yell) with huge commission structure and settlement fees. But a CS SPIA is a special creature that might work if your $$ & actuarial can get it to be medicaid compliant. - if your situation is the opposite, you have no extra $ & need her income to live. Then you can file for CSRA or MMNA. Resource or Needs Allowance.Basically her SS is waived to you instead of getting paid as her SOC. Atty should know how to maximize CSRA request. Think of it as kinda like old school alimony to you.
Plus likely life insurance beneficiary changes needed for both of you. Really CS / NH spouse stuff not a DIY, get financials together and find a NAELA or CELA level of atty to discuss what’s what. Good luck Tasha
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Whether Medicaid allows it to be deducted or what should be asked of them.
Realize that dealing with Medicaid for couples is going to be way WAY more complex than for an individual widow or widower. You as a CS “community spouse” should not ever make yourself impoverished for her to go onto & be eligible for LTC NH Medicaid, which is I’m assuming the goal to get her qualified for. But how to do that to best advantage imo needs to be discussed with elder law atty experienced with CS / NH spouse situation. Not diy. Why......
Well Hopefully you have NOT yet applied for Medicaid for her. Reason being is Medicaid for couples does a “snapshot” day to which all assets (your, hers, combo) are affixed to. So should you need to move $, it needs to get done before snapshot day. Snap is usually fixed to date the application is signed.
What I mean by move $ is $ go to the legit items allowed...... pay off / down on mortgage; turn in your 2 cars to get 1 newer more dependable one (Medicaid only allows for 1, yes Tasha one vehicle, most couples have 2); pay forward as many items now for this year....like insurances, utilities, service providers (AC guy that comes twice a yr or yard guy who comes every 3 weeks); update legal; do a preneed funeral & burial for you both within Medicaid limits (FH usually know what this amt is, likely has a max of 8k or so each). If you all need dental, get it done & paid for now. This is all about lowering the asset base. Why.......
For CS (that’s you - the living in the home “community” spouse), Medicaid allows you to retain assets. $ Amount varies by state as Medicaid is uniquely administered by each state under overall federal guidelines. By & large $122k in nonexempt assets plus exempt assets of a homestead (usually 550k max value for most states) and one car. So if combined assets go over $122k, you will have to spend down to the magical 122k. (This is unlike individuals LTC NH Medicaid which for most states have a max of 2k in nonexempt assets.) You have to know exactly what CS rules are for your state, which is best done by atty as your likely overwhelmed in day to day caregiving & rightly so. Btw I’m not an atty.
But CS situations also different in 2 other mucho importante ways:
- your income is not a factor for her LTC Medicaid eligibility. Only her monthly income (like her SS or pension) counts towards her required co pay or SOC share of cost required to be paid by her to NH ea month.
If you find that even after paying off stuff, your still like 100/200k over the magical 122 large, you might perhaps be able to shift excess assets into a SPIA for you, as the $ paid by the SPIA would be income to you solo. SPIA for a CS when medicaid involved is not a DIY as it must be Medicaid COMPLIANT (not just Medicaid eligible or allowed) and that is speciality underwriting. It is not, NOT, at all your typical annuity that anyone with an insurance license can tout to sell. Personally I do not like annuities as they tend to be sold to to gullible elders with fear factor (“gov mint gonna take yur $” or “avoid probate” yell) with huge commission structure and settlement fees. But a CS SPIA is a special creature that might work if your $$ & actuarial can get it to be medicaid compliant.
- if your situation is the opposite, you have no extra $ & need her income to live. Then you can file for CSRA or MMNA. Resource or Needs Allowance.Basically her SS is waived to you instead of getting paid as her SOC. Atty should know how to maximize CSRA request. Think of it as kinda like old school alimony to you.
Plus likely life insurance beneficiary changes needed for both of you.
Really CS / NH spouse stuff not a DIY, get financials together and find a NAELA or CELA level of atty to discuss what’s what. Good luck Tasha