Here is a quick rundown of the current Medicaid and Special Assistance Rates in North Carolina as of January 1, 2018. Some other areas of this website may provide different numbers – these are the current and updated rates as of May 2018. Thank you to Bob Mason for compiling this information in this original … Read more
A frequent question we get is to what extent Medicaid will count retirement accounts, such as IRA’s and 401(k)’s when one spouse is applying for long-term care benefits on behalf of their spouse who requires skilled nursing care. The simple answer is that yes, Medicaid does count your retirement account assets when you are applying … Read more
While many North Carolina Seniors cannot live independently at home, they still do not need the round the clock care that a skilled nursing facility provides. For these individuals, an assisted living facility may be the best option. An assisted living facility will allow the residents to live independently, but still provide some assistance where … Read more
One of the most commonly asked questions I get is “what is the timeline to apply for Medicaid and do the spend down?” In other words, once we have a plan in place, how does this whole process work? There are basically 5 stages to the process of applying for Medicaid. Here’s a quick overview: … Read more
In case you were thinking that you would file for Medicaid, and they wouldn’t ask you for any financial information to verify your application… think again. In December, a New Jersey appeals court upheld the denial of Medicaid benefits because the applicant did not provide sufficient financial verifications. P.B. v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health … Read more
One of the harsh realities of life is that if you live long enough, at some point you may need move into a long-term care facility, otherwise known as a “skilled nursing facility”. The cost of these facilities can be downright crippling to most families. At a typical cost of between $6,500 to $10,000 per … Read more
North Carolina is one of a handful of states that allows individuals to use Ladybird Deeds to protect their personal residence. But what is a Ladybird Deed anyway, and how do you know if you need one? One of the best ways to explain a Ladybird Deed is to use a simple hypothetical. The Story … Read more
Many people falsely believe that if they or their loved one has to enter a nursing home unexpectedly (after an acute event such as a stroke, an accident, a heart attack, etc.), that they have no choice but to spend down all of their assets (typically on nursing home care) before they can qualify for … Read more