Moving a Loved One on Medicaid to a Different State?

The process of moving a loved one who is a Medicaid beneficiary to another state is daunting at best. There is so much logistical complexity to the process given the fact that one cannot concurrently be eligible for Medicaid long term care in two different states. Further complicating matters is the fact that every state has different eligibility requirements for Medicaid long term care. Monthly income limits can be different, as can the ?countable? financial asset limits. Even which assets are counted can vary from state to state. If your loved one owns property and / or is married the complexity skyrockets. One?s property can be at risk, as can the income and asset allowances are provided to a spouse to enable them to live independently.

What we?ve described in the paragraph above are just the financial differences in Medicaid eligibility. Each state also has different medical requirements for Medicaid long term care eligibility. Some states are considerably more restrictive in what defines a ?nursing home level of care?. Medicare long term care is not just provided in nursing homes, many persons receive Home and Community Based Services from Medicaid through Waiver Programs. Transferring these from state-to-state adds further complexity given that some Waiver Programs have waiting lists.

At Eldercare Resource Planning, we are uniquely qualified to help families move a loved one on Medicaid because our national presence makes us familiar with all 50 states? eligibility criteria and the differences between them.

Let us help you evaluate if the process of moving a loved one to another state is even possible or feasible with a Consulta de Beneficios. We can help you understand the complexities involved and set realistic timelines and most importantly, should you choose to proceed with a move, we can minimize or even eliminate any out-of-pocket costs to the family for care during the transition period.