Will Utah Cover My Nursing Home Costs?

Utah nursing home costs can be staggering, typically starting at $5,000 per month. The burden of cost is often multiplied by the stress of anxiety of a medical crisis. Individuals and families of those requiring nursing care understandably start looking for any way to meet these expenses. While this article is by no means a comprehensive look at Medicaid for nursing home care, I want to get the gears turning for those that may be considering the program for themselves or a loved one.

First off, what is Medicaid? Medicaid is a State-managed program to provide for the medical needs of the impoverished. Medicaid is often confused with Medicare, which is a Federal program to ensure medical coverage for seniors and the disabled. Medicare is mandated for everyone over the age of 65, however; it does not cover long term nursing care.

To be eligible for Medicaid an individual cannot have more than $2,000 net assets to his or her name. This asset limit does not apply to a home, one vehicle, household furnishings or many funeral plans. This is not a complete list of exemptions but it gives a good idea. Furthermore, Medicaid imposes a penalty on any amount given away by the applicant within five years prior to the application for assistance. In my practice I have encountered some very unfortunate instances of misinformed families and individuals who did not understand that mom or dad could not simply give away all of their assets and still qualify for state assistance.

Finally, many of my clients ask about estate recovery. Following the death of a Medicaid patient, the State has the right to recover the costs it has spent on care from the deceased person’s estate. The main target of recovery is typically the house, however; the State will not currently recover against a home if the surviving spouse is still living in the home at the time of the Medicaid patient’s death. Common sense takeaway: If you or a loved one is considering using Medicaid for long term care, be sure to understand all of the requirements as soon as possible.