Many people make it through their entire working years without ever needing to turn to Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) for help with healthcare expenses thanks to employer-sponsored or privately funded health insurance. If you are one of those people, you may find that you do need to rely on Medi-Cal as a senior if you need long-term care because of the prohibitive cost of that care. With that in mind, the Sacramento Medi-Cal attorneys at the Northern California Center for Estate … [Read more...]
A Primer on Medi-Cal Long Term Care Planning (Part 2 of 2)
In Part 1, we provided an overview of the Medi-Cal Long Term Care program and its eligibility requirements. In this installment, we will focus on specific planning strategies. When Should You Plan for Medi-Cal Long Term Care? It is never too late to get help with Medi-Cal planning, even if you or your loved one is already in a nursing home. However, the sooner you begin to plan, the better. Estate planning and elder law attorneys divide Medi-Cal planning into two categories based on how … [Read more...]
Will My Spouse Suffer If I Need to Qualify for Medi-Cal?
As a senior, there is a very good chance that you, or your spouse, will need long-term care at some point. The cost of that care will not be cheap. Fortunately, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) may be able to help; however, you may have heard people talk about the Medi-Cal eligibility rules and fear those rules will cause your spouse to suffer. We will explain why you need not worry about your spouse if you need help from Medi-Cal. Will You Need Nursing Home Care? Although we all hope to … [Read more...]
A Primer on Medi-Cal Long Term Care Planning (Part 1 of 2)
If you are concerned about long term care costs, you are not alone. According to the study Aging in Place in America, more people over the age of 65 are afraid of moving into a nursing home than are afraid of death. One of the problems with our fears is that so many of us choose to ignore them. Ignoring the possible need for nursing home care means that you miss out on the valuable chance to plan ahead. Not only does planning ahead let you shape what your nursing home experience might look … [Read more...]
Can Medi-Cal Go after My Estate after I Am Gone?
If you are a senior, you may have heard a few horror stories about qualifying for Medi-Cal and/or about the potential threat Medi-Cal could pose to your estate after you are gone. Because there are numerous myths and misconceptions about Medi-Cal eligibility, it is not wise to rely on the accuracy of those stories. Instead, you should learn the truth about Med-Cal eligibility requirements as well as how the Medi-Cal Estate Recovery Program (MERP) could impact your estate after your death. Toward … [Read more...]
Confused about Medicare vs. Medi-Cal vs. Medicaid?
Many people are confused about the differences between Medicare and Medi-Cal. While these programs may sound similar, they are in fact two distinct and different programs. Medicare is an entitlement program that is funded by the federal government. It does not depend on one’s assets or income. Benefits are earned by virtue of payments made into this program over one’s working lifetime. When one retires from the workforce at age 65 or so, or earlier due to a disability, Medicare coverage … [Read more...]
The Use of Trusts In Medi-Cal Long-Term Care Planning (Part II)
Last month we discussed generally how trust planning can be very useful in Medi-Cal Long Term Care planning. This month we’ll focus on specific types of trusts that can be useful in planning relating to Medi-Cal Long Term Care. They are: Medi-Cal Gifting Trust: This irrevocable trust is used to preserve clients' assets while still letting them qualify for Long Term Care Medi-Cal. With this trust, the person who creates the trust and puts his or her assets in the trust can't access the … [Read more...]
What Assets Count for Medi-Cal Eligibility?
At some point during your retirement years, there is a chance that you may need to qualify for Medi-Cal to help cover the high cost of long-term care. It is for this reason that including Medi-Cal planning in your overall estate plan is commonly recommended to ensure that your assets are protected when you apply for Medi-Cal. Creating a successful Medi-Cal plan requires an understanding of which assets count for Medi-Cal eligibility and which assets are exempt. In this blog, we offer an overview … [Read more...]
Do I Qualify for California Medi-Cal for Seniors?
Access to affordable healthcare has been a hot topic in the United States in recent years. Although we have some of the best medical care and practitioners throughout the world here in the U.S., we also have some of the highest costs. The high cost of healthcare is particularly problematic for seniors who are often living on a fixed income. For those who are eligible, California’s Medi-Cal program can help. How do you know if you qualify for Medi-Cal as a senior though? In this blog, the … [Read more...]
Understanding the Medi-Cal Look-Back Period
Whether it was your estate planning attorney, or a well-meaning family member or friend, you have likely been told that including a Medi-Cal planning component in your estate plan is a good idea. The reason for this advice is that there is a good chance you may need to qualify for Medi-Cal (California’s version of the national Medicaid program) at some point in the future and if you failed to plan ahead you may not meet the eligibility guidelines. For example, if you run afoul of Medi-Cal’s … [Read more...]
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