Excluded Assets for Medical Assistance: Burial Space and Burial Space Items


December 10, 2015
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This article focuses on burial spaces, burial space items, and irrevocable insurance-funded burial agreements. There are various types of burial agreements, but only one type of burial agreement is discussed below because of the potential to exclude the entire amount for MA purposes if it is properly written. Medical Assistance (MA) is a means-tested program […]

Excluded Assets for Medical Assistance: Homestead


December 3, 2015
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In Minnesota, it is important to know which assets are excluded for Medicaid/Medical Assistance (MA) eligibility purposes when contemplating MA Long-Term Care benefits for individuals who are 65 years of age or older, blind, or disabled. This article focuses on excluded assets for MA eligibility purposes, and will not detail income requirements, asset allowances for […]

Basics of Minnesota Medical Assistance


April 14, 2014
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Over half of the population will require long-term care at some point in their lives.  Paying for long-term care is a topic that many people avoid addressing until the last minute; however, due to the rising costs of skilled nursing care it should really be addressed sooner rather than later.  In Minnesota the average daily […]

The Debt Left Behind by a Spouse


November 4, 2013
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As discussed in a previous post, preparing for a death of a spouse can be extremely difficult and nearly unbearable to even think about. However, it is important to understand the financial impacts so that, if and when the time comes, the surviving spouse is equipped with the right information and is organized. This preparation […]

Obtaining A Clearance Certificate


March 7, 2013
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In many posts, we have eluded to and discussed the basics on Medical Assistance (see: Jamie Held‘s Medical Assistance & Real Property and Jen Santini‘s Medical Assistance Basics for Minnesotans). Medical Assistance, or Medicaid as it is known, is the insurance program provided by counties to those who have no money of their own to […]

What is a Life Estate?


July 9, 2012
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Every now and again a client will ask for a life estate to be created; however, most often the client does not understand what exactly it is, how it is created or the potential benefits and pitfalls of creating such an estate. In this post, I will attempt to give a basic overview of a […]

Medical Assistance & Real Property


July 31, 2011
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When I ask a probate client if the decedent (or decedent’s predeceased spouse, if any) received medical assistance, I often receive a confused look.  I make this inquiry because if the decedent (or decedent’s predeceased spouse) received medical assistance there may be a medical assistance lien filed against real property owned by the decedent.  Before […]

Medical Assistance Basics For Minnesotans


December 30, 2010
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Medical Assistance (“MA”) is Minnesota’s Medicaid program* that is funded by state and federal dollars. MA is an extremely complex area of the law and one that gives many individuals great pause when thinking about his or her future and the aging process. Eligibility Requirements An individual’s eligibility for MA is based on several factors. […]

“The New Old Age” on Medicaid & the Primary Residence


November 24, 2010
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Assisting an elderly parent with the Medicaid application process can be quite complicated.  The New Old Age blog recently published an article by an experienced Elder Law attorney. In the article, Craig Reaves provides basic information on how Medicaid benefits may affect an applicant’s ownership of his or her primary residence. Mr. Reaves notes that […]