Medicaid is a state and federal program that pays for nursing home care for those who meet the eligibility requirements. To qualify financially, a single person cannot have more than $2,000 in countable assets or earn more than $2,022 per month. A married couple can keep their home, a vehicle, and half of their other assets. The document provides an example of how a couple used Medicaid planning with a trust to protect more of their assets to pay for nursing home care.

1. MEDICAID: HOW TO MANAGE THE COST OF STAYING IN A NURSING HOME P. Haans Mulder Cunningham Dalman, P.C. 321 Settlers Road Holland, MI 49423 (616) 392-1821 [email_address] The Village at Appledorn

2. Background Grew up in Holland Attorney and Partner at Cunningham Dalman, P.C. Have a Masters in Tax (MST) and specialize in estates/elder law and business planning Serving the Holland area since 1900

3. Background Cunningham Dalman, P.C. is located in Holland and has been serving the greater Holland area since 1900 We have 15 attorneys specializing in all areas of the law Serving the Holland area since 1900

4. Family

5. Two Goals Want to encourage you to think about what to do if you or your spouse needs to move into a nursing home Educate you about applying for and becoming eligible for Medicaid Serving the Holland area since 1900

6. Overview Discuss the Medicaid process and rules Cover the what, who, when, where, and how’s…. Give you an example of how the process worked Serving the Holland area since 1900

7. What is Medicaid? State and federal program that pays for medical treatment (including nursing home care) Oftentimes confused with Medicare Serving the Holland area since 1900

8. When does Medicaid apply? Must be in a nursing home or be in certain counties that have the MI Choice Waiver program Program can provide nursing home level of care in a person’s home Serving the Holland area since 1900

9. Who does Medicaid apply to? Applies to people who are 65 years or older, blind, or disabled Must satisfy the medical requirements (have level of care assessment done) Must meet income and asset tests Serving the Holland area since 1900

10. Who does Medicaid apply to? You cannot have enough income to pay the monthly cost of staying in a nursing home ($6-7,000 in this area) Cannot earn more than $2,022/month for the MI Choice Waiver program Serving the Holland area since 1900

11. Who does Medicaid apply to? Asset test requires that a single person cannot have more than $2,000 in countable assets You can keep your home (if it’s owned properly) and a vehicle Serving the Holland area since 1900

12. Who does Medicaid apply to? Asset test allows a married couple to keep their home (again, if it’s owned properly), a vehicle, and one-half of their other assets Serving the Holland area since 1900

13. Where do you apply? Apply for Medicaid at the Department of Human Services (DHS) DHS offices are located in each county Apply to the county office that the nursing home is located Serving the Holland area since 1900

14. Example Clients were husband and wife Drafted an estate plan for them A couple years later, the wife’s health declined significantly and had to go to a nursing home Serving the Holland area since 1900

15. Example She didn’t stay in a hospital for three days so Medicare didn’t cover any of the stay at the nursing home They had a house, vehicle, and investments Serving the Holland area since 1900

16. Example Could keep the house (because it was properly owned) and their vehicle Without any Medicaid planning, they would have had to spend down one-half of their investments Serving the Holland area since 1900

17. Example Drafted a trust that allowed them to protect all of their investments (as opposed to just half) This provided peace of mind to the husband Serving the Holland area since 1900

18. Return to Two Goals Want to encourage you to think about what to do if you or your spouse needed to move to a nursing home Educate you about applying for and becoming eligible for Medicaid Serving the Holland area since 1900

19. Questions…… Serving the Holland area since 1900

20. Thank You P. Haans Mulder Cunningham Dalman, P.C. 321 Settlers Road Holland, MI 49423 (616) 392-1821 [email_address] www.holland-law.com Serving the Holland area since 1900