Medicaid Assessment/Application
Our seven-step Medicaid Assessment and Application Process®.
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When you’re facing a long-term care crisis, getting the right care for your loved one is critical. It can easily cost thousands of dollars each and every month, but it doesn’t have to. There are better solutions, but navigating the complex maze of legal and financial long-term care options is a daunting and overwhelming task. Many of those options are based on complex Medicaid asset and income rules.
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In order to understand what options are available to your loved one, our process begins with a detailed and thorough assessment of your loved one’s current legal and financial circumstances. Through a detailed analysis of his or her income, assets, current legal documents, and recent financial activity we will determine what options may be available in helping cover the cost of care. During our Assessment consultation we’ll discuss family goals and concerns and review the dangers, opportunities and strengths that exist as we move forward. -
After the completion of our Assessment consultation, our attorneys will analyze the information you provided and determine which options are available to assist you with the cost of care and prepare an extensive summary letter of our findings for you. We will then meet and discuss each one and together develop a plan that is best for you, given your loved one’s financial situation and family goals and concerns.
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Based upon the solution we both determine is appropriate for your family, the next step is to work together to implement the plan. To the extent that any assistance is needed with a facility, care provider or insurance company, we help you coordinate everything with them. If the plan includes obtaining eligibility for government benefits (i.e. MassHealth), we will take the lead in directing each step in gaining that eligibility as quickly as possible.
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In many cases, an application for Long-Term Care MassHealth is a critical part of the solution. Our office will handle this complex and challenging process for you. It starts with the preparation and filing of the application. We will handle all correspondence with the MassHealth caseworker and will monitor your case, keeping you informed of the status throughout each step of the process.
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Working through the MassHealth application process is complicated and time-consuming. No matter how well-organized and thorough an application is when first submitted, there are always roadblocks to work through before an approval is obtained. In working with MassHealth and its caseworkers, it is very common for caseworkers to make further inquiries into the financial circumstances of the applicant. This process can be as basic as a request for additional documents or can involve more extensive inquiries where a caseworker will deny an application. We work through and address these roadblocks. If a denial letter is issued by MassHealth, we will review and analyze the letter and evaluate how to proceed. Often times a denial is issued by a caseworker, but can be easily rectified. However, if the denial is the result of a more significant issue, an appeal may need to be filed.
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At this stage in our process we have pushed through the application and have received our answer from MassHealth. We will review the approval letter issued by MassHealth, double check any income-based calculations for accuracy and then review the approval letter with you. In the case of a loved one in a nursing home, we will make sure that the nursing home receives the letter and that they understand any monthly patient paid contributions to be paid by the resident.
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Getting the MassHealth approval letter is never the final step. There are often adjustments to asset ownership that need to take place after the approval is received and logistics surrounding patient paid amounts for nursing home residents. We also need to review how to keep assets and income structured properly to ensure continuing access to MassHealth benefits each year. In addition, at this point it is critical that we update estate planning documents, especially in situations where there is a spouse living at home.
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I want to understand my options.
Our Team of Qualified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorneys
Kenneth J. Simmons, Jr.
“Your Goals. Your Plan. I think these four words really capture the key principals that our practice is built on, which are: a) That every client has unique goals, dreams and concerns; b) That there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” solution when it comes to estate planning; c) that our most important job is to listen to and learn from our clients to understand what they want their estate plan to accomplish. It is through this learning process that we can then create a customized estate plan designed to meet the personalized goals of each and every client.”
Learn More about Attorney SimmonsMarco A. Schiavo
“I believe that 95% of our job is listening. Our firm’s objective is to address all of our clients’ concerns and accomplish their goals by providing a personalized estate plan designed to fit their specific needs which includes preserving the wealth that they have accumulated throughout the years. We believe firmly that estate planning is not a one-time event. As life changes, the plan should change with it. We believe in developing lifelong relationships with our clients so that they see us as not just advisors, but also as trusted friends.”
Learn More about Attorney SchiavoOur Team of Qualified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorneys
Kenneth J. Simmons, Jr.
“Your Goals. Your Plan. I think these four words really capture the key principals that our practice is built on, which are: a) That every client has unique goals, dreams and concerns; b) That there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” solution when it comes to estate planning; c) that our most important job is to listen to and learn from our clients to understand what they want their estate plan to accomplish. It is through this learning process that we can then create a customized estate plan designed to meet the personalized goals of each and every client.”
Learn More about Attorney SimmonsMarco A. Schiavo
“I believe that 95% of our job is listening. Our firm’s objective is to address all of our clients’ concerns and accomplish their goals by providing a personalized estate plan designed to fit their specific needs which includes preserving the wealth that they have accumulated throughout the years. We believe firmly that estate planning is not a one-time event. As life changes, the plan should change with it. We believe in developing lifelong relationships with our clients so that they see us as not just advisors, but also as trusted friends.”
Learn More about Attorney Schiavo