Medicaid is a health care benefit program funded by the state and federal government for elderly and disabled people who have limited assets or income.
When you apply for Medicaid, the state of Michigan will determine whether you are eligible for benefits. To make sense of your Michigan Medicaid application, schedule a consultation with our Medicaid attorney.
Who Qualifies for Medicaid?
To qualify for Medicaid you must prove that your assets and income don’t exceed limits set by the government (more on this later). Once the state finds you eligible, you will have to go through a functional eligibility assessment if you want to receive long-term care services.
Getting Started
While you can apply for Medicaid yourself, you can also designate another person to do it for you. Depending on your estate, you may want to consult with our Medicaid attorney prior to submitting your application.
Although the Michigan Medicaid application appears simple enough at first glance, in most cases it must be accompanied by hundreds of pages of supporting financial documents. In fact, many Medicaid applications are denied because there wasn’t enough documentation of income and assets. Fortunately, our elder law attorney can help you sort through the paperwork and understand how Medicaid fits into your retirement planning.
Answering Questions about Your Home
With two exceptions, your home is not considered an asset when determining Medicaid eligibility. Your home is not exempt if at the time of the Medicaid application it is titled to a revocable living trust. How much home equity you have can affect whether Medicaid will pay for nursing home care. If you are married, there is no limit on the value of your home equity. If you are not married, for 2023, your home equity cannot be greater than $688,000.
If you own a home, the state may ask for:
- Copies of your mortgage or equity loans
- Real estate appraisal
- Current tax bill
Submitting Your Medicaid Application
It will take time for the state of Michigan to process your Medicaid application, which is why you should apply as soon as you know you’ll be needing nursing home care. In general, the agency has 45 days to process your Medicaid application. However, your benefits can be delayed if you need a disability determination or if you don’t provide the required documentation.
Our Medicaid lawyer can help you determine the best time to apply for Medicaid based on your medical needs, marital status, and personal finances. If the state of Michigan finds you eligible for Medicaid benefits, you’ll receive a letter with your date of eligibility and the amount you must pay toward the cost of your care.
Reviewing Your Eligibility Status
Medicaid will review your eligibility status every year. During the yearly review, you may need to document your income and assets again, especially if either your income or assets have changed much in the last year.
The review process is usually simpler than the original application process. If the Medicaid agency determines that you are not eligible, you will receive a letter that explains the reason for denial. The notice will also explain how you can appeal the decision.
Our Norton Shores elder law attorney can help you apply for Medicaid so you can cover nursing home expenses. To schedule your consultation with Medicaid attorney Douglas H. McPhail, call (231) 799-4994.