Applying for benefits
APPLYING FOR BENEFITS
If you are applying for Medicaid benefits, you must prove that you do not have the ability or means to pay for your own medical care. The Medicaid process has been likened to the auditing process of the IRS. You will need to complete a lengthy questionnaire, disclosing all assets and income, as well as providing verification and documentation of your assets, income and personal affairs. You will be interview by a Medicaid caseworker whose goal is to get a “snapshot” of your current situation based on income, resources and expenses. Upon gathering the information, a decision is made as to whether Medicaid will approve you to receive benefits.
What are some of the things Medicaid will need to see at the time of application?
- Identifying information such as Birth/Baptismal Certificates
- Medicare, Social Security, Insurance Cards
- Verification of Marital Status: Marriage Certificate/Divorce Papers/ Spouse’s Death Certificate
- Power of Attorney Form
- Guardianship Papers if applicable
- Deed to House/Automobile Title
- Veteran’s Discharge Papers
- All statements of all resources (stocks/bonds, CDs, bank statements, etc) going back 36 months; with
- Explanations of all deposits or withdrawals $500 and over
- Verification of all current income
- Verification of trusts created in the past 5 years;
- Verification of a prepaid burial plan (preferably in the form of an irrevocable burial trust*)
- Verification of face and cash values of all life insurance policies (Medicaid currently allows for $1500 of life insurance in addition to a prepaid irrevocable funeral trust)
- Any unpaid medical bills (retroactive 3 months)
- Verification of health insurance premiums –Statement of Medical Necessity from a doctor to verify the necessity of long term care services
- Current PRI (Patient Review Instrument) for SNF/rehab facility admissions
Medicaid works in conjunction with Medicare and may pick up necessary expenses that Medicare and other programs do not cover.
Expenses that Medicaid May Cover Include:
- Personal Home Care
- Personal Emergency Response System
- Nursing Home Care
- Prescription Medicines
- Dental Care
- Routine Foot Care
- Medical Supplies/Equipment
- Health Insurance Premiums
- Preventative Health Care
- Hospital Care/Clinics
- Medical Day Care
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
There are also special programs available to those on Medicaid from outside agencies that will help with personal budgeting such as reduced rates for telephone service and Meals On Wheels.
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