5    You must spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid, and a lien could be taken out on your home to cover the benefits paid after your death, or if it is determined that you will be unlikely to return home.  

5    Medicaid is a form of welfare designed for those who have spent down their assets or are living at the poverty level.  Most Long Term Care services covered by Medicaid are for Nursing Home care. 

5    Even if Medicaid did cover some services in your own home, you'd have to spend down your assets to qualify for care.  It would be difficult to remain home if you have no money to pay for property taxes, utlilities, and repairs, etc.

5    Long Term Care Insurance can allow you to have services at home, protect your assets, and relieve the burden on the healthy spouse and children. 

5    Please check with a lawyer who specializes in elder law if you need to understand more about Medicaid.  If you’d like to understand how insurance covers the services you can receive in your own home, please contact Mark Baron.

5    Massacusetts has a special protection called the MassHealth Exemption.  Currently, if someone enters a nursing home and has a plan with at least 2 years remaining in benefits  and they had purchased that plan with $125 or more, with no more than a 365 day elimination period, then their home can be protected from Medicaid recovery in the future.   This exemption is for costs related to long term care services paid by Medicaid.  There would have to be a spend down after the insurance plan ran out to qualify for Medicaid, but the home would be protected from long term care payments made by Medicaid.  Someone who purchased less than $125 per day may still qualify if an inflation rider grew the benefit above $125.  This exemption may be changed in the future, or may not even exist at some point.