Howard County Elder Law Attorney

Elder Law Lawyer in Howard County

No one likes thinking about the possibility of needing long-term medical care, but for many Americans, the need for long-term care could become a reality. If you live in Ellicott City or the surrounding area and are considering Medicaid and long-term care planning, a Howard County elder law attorney can help you prepare and protect your future.

About Liberty Legacy Law Group

At Liberty Legacy Law Group, we take pride in helping clients in Howard County navigate some of life’s most significant decisions. We support individuals and families as they work to protect and preserve what they have built. When you visit our law office on North Ridge Road in Ellicott, you will never feel like just another case. Our clients are our neighbors, and we treat them that way.

What Is Medicaid and Long-Term Care Planning

It is difficult to think about reaching a point in your life at which you cannot care for yourself, but it is important to prepare for that possibility. For many individuals, nursing homes represent a situation that allows them to live in a home-like setting while also attending to various medical needs. Approximately 1.3 million Americans live and receive care in nursing homes.

Unfortunately, the cost of living in a long-term care facility is very high by the average person’s standards. The mean monthly cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home in Maryland is over $15,000. This cost is prohibitive for the vast majority of people.

Medicaid provides coverage for long-term care facilities, but only for individuals who qualify for the program based on their income and assets. Because Medicaid can make long-term care in a nursing facility accessible to people who otherwise may not be able to afford it, it is important to plan ahead and make sure you can qualify for Medicaid if the time comes to seek a long-term care arrangement.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements in Maryland?

It is vital to understand the eligibility requirements for Medicaid enrollment, as the program is subject to strict asset and income limits. Exceeding these limits or transferring assets without going through the proper steps can result in delay or denial of benefits, which can have significant negative effects on a person’s life.

In terms of income requirements, in Maryland, a beneficiary’s income cannot exceed the cost of the nursing facility, with the exception of a small allowance for personal needs. Assets are limited to $2,500 in countable assets. Countable assets include things like bank account balances, stocks, and real estate. Household goods, furniture, personal belongings, and a person’s home, among other things, are exempt from the asset limit.

For married couples where only one spouse requires care, the healthy spouse may retain a higher portion of assets, depending on the total marital estate, to prevent financial hardship.

Hire an Elder Law Attorney

If you are thinking ahead to long-term medical care and you need to qualify for Medicaid, you should hire an elder law attorney to help you make the right moves now to prepare for the future. In order to qualify for Medicaid coverage for a long-term care facility, you need to begin the process of restructuring or transferring your assets well before you are ready to apply for coverage. An attorney can help people in that situation strategize and get into a qualifying position.

FAQs

What Is the Five-Year Look-Back for Medicaid Applications?

The five-year look-back is the policy of checking five years of financial history when someone applies for Medicaid. The purpose of the look-back is to make sure that people who do not really need coverage are not simply giving away all of their assets or selling them for less than what they are worth in order to qualify.

What is the Income Limit for Medicaid Eligibility in Maryland?

Maryland generally does not use a fixed monthly income cap the way many states do. Instead, your income typically must be paid to the nursing home (after allowed deductions), and Medicaid cover the rest of the nursing home cost. Simply put, income cannot exceed the cost of nursing home care.

Do I Need to Think About Medicaid and Long-Term Care Planning if I’m Healthy

Yes, it is important to think about Medicaid and long-term care planning, even if you are currently healthy. It is far better to be prepared for a situation that never comes than to find yourself in a predicament with no safety net. Whether you expect to need long-term care or not, consult an attorney about your options just in case.

How Does Eligibility Work in Maryland if One Spouse Needs Care and the Other Does Not?

If one spouse needs long-term care and the other spouse does not, there are different income and assets limits for eligibility. The healthy spouse is allowed a certain amount of exempt income, and their income is generally not considered as part of the eligibility assessment. The goal of this policy is to prevent a healthy person from needing to live in poverty so their spouse can qualify for care.

Contact Liberty Legacy Law Group

When it is time to plan for the possibility of long-term care and Medicaid coverage, you need an experienced attorney to help you navigate the complexities of eligibility and the application process.

At Liberty Legacy Law Group, we are in the business of protecting what our clients have built and supporting them as they plan for the future. Contact us today to discuss your needs with a Howard County elder law attorney.