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Frequently Asked Questions
NHS Cautions
- What is the difference between Medi-Cal and Medicare?
- Can I have an income and obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
- What assets can I keep and obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
- What is "Share of Cost"?
- Can I have savings and a home?
- What does Medi-Cal cover?
- Is there a limit as to what I can have and still obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
- How quickly can I get Medi-Cal benefits?
- Is Medi-Cal a Bureaucracy?
- Can I transfer assets to protect myself?
- What assets are counted by Medi-Cal?
Your Home
- Is my house counted as an asset?
- Are there problems with transferring my home?
- Would I want to transfer the home to my husband or wife?
Recovery and Estate Claims
- Can I protect myself from the state placing a recovery claim against my home?
- Can I avoid an estate claim or recovery?
- Can a claim be made against my assets?
Living Trusts
- Do Revocable Living Trusts work?
- Do Living Trusts work with Medi-Cal and Long Term illness?
- Are there pitfalls to a living trust?
- Are there ways to avoid or minimize problems with a living trust and still obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
Long-Term Care Insurance
Nursing Home Evaluation
- What is Nursing Home Solutions? (NHS)
NHS is among the oldest companies specializing in helping families obtain Federal long-term care nursing home benefits. Nursing Home Solutions (NHS), is based in Glendale, California. NHS has led the way and is the pre-eminent, most knowledgeable and most established company in the arena of public long-term-care benefits and asset protection. Since 1977, when our principal co-founded the non-profit Grey Law to meet the legal needs of senior citizens throughout Southern California, we have been pioneers in tackling difficult long-term-care issues in California and the nation. Through the years, NHS has helped numerous families preserve their hard-earned assets while obtaining federal and state benefits for which they are entitled. Our goal is to get your long-term-care benefits within a month of your first consultation.
In solving your long-term issues, NHS has the best and brightest minds at our disposal. We work with professionals such as attorneys, accountants, financial planners, stockbrokers, healthcare professionals, insurance agents, nursing homes, hospitals, administrators and many others to provide the most comprehensive service each individual client needs to achieve his/her goals. We are experts at handling all matters related to long-term benefits approval, filing government applications, protection and movement of assets, and interaction with State and Federal agencies. We, at NHS, do all of this for you!
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NHS Cautions
For families that are currently receiving long-term care Medi-Cal Benefits, it is imperative that they take steps to protect their home and savings from a potential Medi-Cal recovery claim. The home is not an exempt asset and is at risk for Medi-Cal Recovery claims.
- What is the difference between Medi-Cal and Medicare?
Medicare is a federally funded and administered program that provides health insurance for older Americans and those who are disabled and who have contributed to the Social Security system for the requisite number of years. Since Medicare is a Federal program, eligibility guidelines and services are the same all over the country. Medicare will only pay for up to the first 100 days of a Nursing Home stay, and in most cases it pays for only the first 20 days.
Medi-Cal is a health insurance program financed and jointly run by Federal and State Governments. Medi-Cal runs two programs; one for low-income people of all ages and one for long-term nursing home care.
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- Can I have an income and obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
Married persons may retain most or all of their monthly income with proper advice and guidance, and still obtain benefits.
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- What assets can I keep and obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
Fortunately, Medi-Cal rules exempt many assets from the countable asset base. With the proper advice and assistance, the average family can keep just about everything they own.
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- What is “Share of Cost”?
Share of cost is a monthly deductible that is payable to the nursing home, and other healthcare providers. It is used to reduce the total costs that Medi-Cal pays for healthcare. Under certain circumstances, NHS can help you take steps to reduce or eliminate your share of cost.
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- Can I have savings and a home?
With the assistance of NHS, absolutely! It is not necessary to spend your life savings before you can qualify for long-term care Medi-Cal.
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- What does Medi-Cal cover?
Medi-Cal covers nursing home costs, durable goods, necessary therapy and most prescriptions. Coupled with Medicare it is considered the “Gold Card” for long-term nursing home care.
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- Is there a limit as to what I can have and still obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
With the assistance of NHS, and with proper planning and proper asset protection there is no limit as to the amount of appropriate assets that you may have.
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- How quickly can I get Medi-Cal benefits?
With the assistance of NHS, a person can become Medi-Cal pending in a few days. When approved, Medi-Cal will pay retroactively to the first day of the month in which the application was filed.
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- Is Medi-Cal a Bureaucracy?
Medi-Cal rules and regulations are extremely complicated. If you have assets that you wish to protect it is imperative that you seek the advice and assistance of knowledgeable professionals in this narrow field of Public Benefits. NHS is the leader.
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- Can I transfer assets to protect myself?
The "look back period" rule prevents you from giving away assets, and then qualifying you immediately for benefits. While there are ways to transfer assets, they must fit within the Medi-Cal guidelines. It is imperative that you not attempt to undertake the transfer of assets without competent and experienced professional advice.
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- What assets are counted by Medi-Cal?
All non-exempt assets are counted by Medi-Cal. They include but are not limited to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, savings, insurance policies with a cash value, most annuities, the equity value in other real property, to name a few. Medi-Cal rules and regulations provide various ways of exempting all of these assets.
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Your Home
- Is my house counted as an asset?
The home is exempt (not counted) for purposes of applying for Medi-Cal, but is really a deferred asset, which can be counted for re-imbursement to Medi-Cal. You need to take specific steps in order to protect the home from a future Medi-Cal Recovery claim. NHS understands the importance of the family home, and makes protecting that asset a priority from any future lien/claim a priority.
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- Are there problems with transferring my home?
There may very well be. In addition, there are tax consequences to transfer’s as well, so all options should be reviewed in order to achieve the best possible solution for the individual.
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- Would I want to transfer the home to my husband or wife?
Often, but not always. There are times when it is far better to consider other options.
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Recovery and Estate Claims
- Can I protect myself from the state placing a recovery claim against my home?
Absolutely! But you must take steps to protect your home before the applicant dies. Ignorance of your rights could cost you your home.
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- Can I avoid an estate claim or recovery?
Yes! There is no reason for anyone to lose their home to an estate claim/lien, if they take the proper steps in a timely manner. Let NHS help you.
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- Can a claim be made against my assets?
Yes! If you have not properly protected your assets in compliance with Medi-Cal rules and regulations, the state will have a right to make a recovery claim against those assets. It is imperative however that this be done properly.
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Living Trusts
- Do Revocable Living Trusts work?
Living Trusts avoid Probate, but they do not protect assets from creditors.
They are actually a creditor’s tool. Health care providers may well be the largest creditor that seniors will face.
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- Do Living Trusts work with Medi-Cal and Long-Term illness?
Absolutely not!!! A Living Trust may preclude a person from qualifying for Medi-Cal in the first place and will insure the state a right to a recovery claim after the applicant has died.
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- Are there pitfalls to a living trust?
There are some. Assets in a trust are "available" to the person who set up the trust. If they are available to the applicant, then the applicant may not qualify for the long-term care benefits that would otherwise be available to them.
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- Are there ways to avoid or minimize problems with a living trust and still obtain Medi-Cal benefits?
Yes! In most cases, although much depends on the language contained in your trust. If it can be accomplished, then a proper plan for converting countable assets to non-countable assets can be implemented, with the advice and guidance of knowledgeable professionals, like those at NHS.
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Long-Term Insurance
- Should I purchase Long-Term care Insurance?
NHS cautions older adults to remember that insurance companies have an economic incentive to aggressively market such products. According to U.S. Census data, the 55-and-older age group is one of the most affluent segments for our society. Insurance agents who sell long-term care policies can earn commissions of more than 30 percent.
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Nursing Home Evaluation
- How can I determine if a nursing home is right for me or my loved one?
You should consider a variety of factors:
- Location – identify facilities within reasonable driving radius of those who will be visiting most often.
- Payment options – make sure the facility accepts Medicare and/or Medi-Cal reimbursements. Some nursing homes are not certified by Medi-Cal.
- Waiting lists – ask if an opening exists. If not, ask how long the waiting list is and factor that into your needs.
- Condition – appearances can be deceptive. Make more than one visit at different times and days. View the entire facility, not just one wing or floor. Inspect rooms, common areas, baths and showers, and kitchen and dining areas.
- Residents – assess their level of satisfaction and care.
- Staff – check if staffing appears adequate and professional and if staff members enjoy working there.
- Food quality – older adults lose interest in unappetizing or ill-prepared food.
- Activities – find out what the facility provides for residents.
- Emotional care – use all your senses to get a feel for the emotional care provided and how the staff treats the residents.
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