Ideally, you already incorporated Medicaid planning into your estate plan years ago so that you will be eligible for Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) when you need it. What happens though if you did not plan ahead and now suddenly need to qualify for Medi-Cal? The Sacramento Medicaid planning attorneys at the Northern California Center for Estate Planning & Elder Law explain how last-minute Medicaid planning may still be able to help you. Why Might I Need to Qualify for … [Read more...] about Last-Minute Medi-Cal Planning

While you may prefer not to think about it, the reality is that you, or a spouse, may need long-term care at some point in the future. If you do end up needing long-term care (LTC) you may find yourself turning to Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California) for help covering the cost of that care. Because you may need to qualify for Medi-Cal, and the eligibility guidelines are complex, LTC expenses are something that should be addressed within your comprehensive estate plan to ensure that you … [Read more...] about Understanding Medi-Cal Spend-Down

If your estate plan does not include a Medi-Cal planning component, it probably should. Like many people, you may have never before needed to turn to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) for help with your healthcare expenses – but that could change when you are older. Because you may eventually need to rely on Medicaid, let's see what you need to know about Medi-Cal You May Need Medi-Cal Even If You Are Covered under Medicare. At age 65, you will likely be automatically enrolled in Medicare. … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know about Medi-Cal

Like many seniors, you may find yourself faced with the need to qualify for Medicaid for the first time in your life. Having never before needed to rely on Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program), you may know very little about the program. To get you started,we will explains what you need to know about Medicaid. Long-Term Care Costs Prompt the Need to Qualify for Medicaid. You are not alone! As of 2020, the average cost of a year in long-term care (LTC) in California is over $112,000. … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know about Medi-Cal

You may have heard that many seniors turn to Medi-Cal for help covering their health care expenses. You may also know about the asset limit used to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal. If you believe that your assets exceed the limit, you may be wondering why you can’t simply transfer those assets to an adult child.  In this article, we will explain why transferring assets can cause Medi-Cal to impose a waiting period. Will You Need to Qualify for Medi-Cal? If you have never before needed to … [Read more...] about Can’t I Just Transfer My Assets to My Adult Child to Qualify for Medi-Cal?

Employer sponsored pension plans are all but a thing of the past. In addition, Social Security retirement benefits have not kept up with the cost of living. Consequently, many people now fund their own retirement through the use of tools such as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). If you are one of those people, and you are now faced with the need to qualify for Medi-Cal to help pay for the high cost of long-term care, you may be wondering if your IRA is at risk. To help you plan ahead, we … [Read more...] about Can Medi-Cal Take Your IRA?