Medicaid Applications

Medicaid can help you pay for medical bills, long-term medical care, and other health care expenses as you age. Because Medicaid eligibility requirements are strict, consulting with a qualified Medicaid attorney is essential to avoid pitfalls and avoid wasting your money.

Contact our Bassett Murray Law Group today to schedule your Medicaid planning consultation. 

Why Plan Ahead for Medicaid Applications?

Predicting whether you will need to use Medicaid to pay for long-term care can be challenging. Even if you are healthy now, you never know how your health will change over the years. 

Many Michigan residents do not initially meet Medicaid eligibility requirements. You must meet specific asset and monthly income limits to qualify for Medicaid, which we will discuss below. However, using Medicaid planning strategies can help reduce your countable assets while preserving your assets. 

Medicaid has a look-back period of five years for long-term-care applications. This means that you cannot give away your assets and then attempt to qualify for long-term-care Medicaid right away. There are divestment penalties which are complex and difficult to navigate.

Some Medicaid planning strategies are available to help you arrange your assets with an eye toward qualifying for benefits in the future. These plans are not for everyone! Each Medicaid plan involves an individual assessment based on your personal situation – your family, your health, your assets, and your plans for the future. At Bassett Murray Law Group PLLC, we know how to help you plan, and WHEN to help you plan. The sooner we discuss the options, the more options you will have. You never know when you may need to use Medicaid to cover medical expenses. 

Michigan Medicaid Eligibility Requirements

There are many different Medicaid programs in Michigan. Some are specific to people with certain diseases or conditions and others are more widely available. Knowing which programs apply to you and the eligibility criteria for those programs is critical to getting services in place quickly and efficiently.

If you are living outside a nursing home or hospital, Medicaid is available to Michigan residents who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and who meet specific income and asset limits.  If you receive SSI, you will automatically qualify for Medicaid. If you do not receive SSI, your monthly income must be less than 138% of the federal poverty level. This limit is $16,000 for an individual or $33,000 for a family of four. 

Long-term-care Medicaid has different income and asset limits. A single person can keep up to $2,000 in assets and must have income less than the nursing home charges per month. Married couples can have more in assets, and the only income that counts is the income for the spouse applying for the long-term-care Medicaid. However, within those rules are plenty of exceptions and opportunities to protect assets for other people who may need them including the spouse, dependents, adult children and grandchildren, if you know where to look.

Our Medicaid planning attorneys can examine your income and assets to determine whether you currently meet Medicaid eligibility requirements. If you are over the asset or income limit, we have tools we can use to help you qualify sooner – all using the Medicaid policies of the State of Michigan to help you qualify.

When to Apply for Medicaid

If you need Medicaid now to cover immediate medical expenses, you may not have time to implement Medicaid planning strategies that fall outside the look-back period. Our attorneys can help you understand your opinions for immediate Medicaid planning. 
Once you apply, the Medicaid agency will process your application within 45 to 90 days. If the agency denies your application, an appeal will need to be filed for you or you will need to start over, delaying the process. 

The most effective way to improve your Medicaid eligibility and streamline your application is to work with a qualified attorney. We can help you through the application process to improve your chances of receiving coverage. 

How Our Medicaid Planning Attorneys Can Help

Our Medicaid planning attorneys have helped numerous Michigan residents qualify for and receive Medicaid benefits. We are well-versed in the state’s Medicaid eligibility requirements and application processes, allowing us to provide knowledgeable advice and guidance. 

We can help you:

  • Implement Medicaid planning strategies to improve your eligibility
  • Gather the documents and information necessary for your application
  • Fill out your application
  • Communicate with the Medicaid agency

Contact our Experienced Medicaid Attorneys Today

If you need help with Medicaid applications, contact our Bassett Murray Law Group today at 734-930-9200 to schedule a consultation. 

GET TO KNOW US BETTER

Get to know us better by scheduling an initial consultation where we can discuss your needs.

Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC
2045 Hogback Road
​Ann Arbor, MI ​48105
Phone: 734-930-9200
Fax: 734-930-9942

Petoskey Office
By Appointment only
3319 Lakeside Dr S
Petoskey, MI 49770
Phone: 231-427-2292

    Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC
    2045 Hogback Road
    ​Ann Arbor, MI ​48105
    Phone: 734-930-9200
    Fax: 734-930-9942