Supplemental Needs Trusts For Disabled Persons

September 6th, 2013 by David Goldfarb

A Supplemental Needs Trust is a trust created for a chronically and severely disabled beneficiary which supplements government benefits such as Medicaid rather than diminishing such benefits. Medicaid and other government benefit programs consider the resources and income of an individual for purposes of determining eligibility for assistance and the amount of such assistance. With a Supplemental Needs Trust, […]

New York Medicaid New Resource Documentation Rules

September 6th, 2013 by David Goldfarb

There are three distinct resource documentation requirements depending on the type of Medicaid applied for. The three types of Medicaid coverage and the resource documentation requirements are: (1) Community Coverage Without Long-Term Care – requires a self-attestation to the amount of current resources; (2) Community Coverage With Community-Based Long-Term Care – requires proof of current […]

Persons being discharged from a hospital or nursing home will often first get home health services under Medicare and Medicaid from a Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA).   Medicare CHHA services are limited and have strict criteria. Medicare CHHA services are only available if the recipient is homebound and requires the intermittent services of a skilled nurse or therapist. Medicare […]

Medicaid coverage is expanded as of July 1, 2003, to working disabled individuals with incomes up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Congress enacted the Medicaid Buy-In option for states in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (§ 4733) and enhanced the option in the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act […]

Use of Trusts in Medicaid Planning in New York

September 6th, 2013 by David Goldfarb

The use of trusts in Medicaid planning raises a number of issues. The two most important are: (1) How will the transfer of assets into the trust be treated? And (2) How will the assets in the trust and the income from the trust be treated by Medicaid? In order to fully answer these questions […]

Some recent Medicaid Developments in New York State

September 6th, 2013 by David Goldfarb

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S 1932) enacted Feb. 8, 2006, creates major changes in the Medicaid Transfer of Asset rules: (1) creates a five year look back; (2) calculates a penalty or waiting period from when a person is receiving institutional care and would be otherwise eligible; (3) creates limits on home equity; and (4) requires […]

As discussed in The Estate Tax is Back, but with some Twists – And Opportunities, the increase in the exemption for Federal Estate and Gift Tax for $5 million per person (and $10 million for a husband and wife) for 2011 and 2012, presents people with a unique opportunity to make sizeable gifts to children while […]

Medicaid Frequently Asked Questions

September 6th, 2013 by David Goldfarb

Why is Medicaid different in every state? Medicaid is a joint federal-state program. It provides medical assistance to eligible needy persons. Unlike Medicare it is an entitlement program based on income and asset guidelines. The federal contribution is approximately 50%. The states pay the remaining costs and they are given wide discretion about whom to […]

Medicaid coverage was expanded as of July 1, 2003, to working disabled individuals with incomes up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Congress enacted the Medicaid Buy-In option for states in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (§ 4733) and enhanced the option in the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act […]