Don’t count on the Medicaid representative at the County Board to remind you to Spend Down
An application for Medicaid benefits cannot be approved before the applicant (and spouse, if any) has completed the spend-down, because benefits are not payable unless the applicant is financially eligible. It is not uncommon for someone to initiate an application for Medicaid without having any idea whether they are eligible or not. The nursing home may start the process; a nonattorney...
Going from ACA Medicaid to “Regular” Medicaid Can Be a High Wire Act Without Legal Assistance
New Jersey has a lot of roads to eligibility for Medicaid, and that’s a good thing. All of those roads are called NJ FamilyCare, and that’s a confusing thing.
Medicaid in New Jersey is provided by five Managed Care Organizations (MCO) now through NJ FamilyCare. You must choose one to get services, including long-term services and supports (LTSS), which will be coordinated by the...
Medicaid Applications: Finish the Spend-down first
When a Medicaid application is denied due to “excess resources,” many procedural tangles can ensue. Individuals who require long-term care in nursing homes, assisted living or at home may apply for Medicaid when their countable available resources have been reduced to a low level, typically $2,000 for an unmarried person plus a protected share for their spouse. (Income is treated...