Medicaid Law

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is welfare health care coverage; nursing home payments for those under the income cap.

2. Who qualified for Medicaid? Medical assessment required.
Aged - 65 years
Blind - SS Disability
Disabled

3. What services does Medicaid cover?
Nursing home bills
Doctor bills
Prescriptions

4. What if I have Medicare?
Medicare will be your primary coverage, Medicaid would be secondary

5. If a person thinks they are in need of help, when should they make an appointment?
Immediately, it takes time to gather all the information the Board of Social Services
requires to be approved for Medicaid.

6. Does a person need an appointment prior to going to the Medicaid office?
Yes, you should be aware of all the options you have.

7. Do you have to tell the Medicaid intake worker all of your assets when you apply for Medicaid?
Yes, or its fraud.

8. What if I have other Health Insurance (BC/BS, AARP)?
You will have an option of keeping it, if you what to keep the insurance the premium will be
deducted from your monthly income.

9. How are Life Insurance policies looked at?
If it's a Group Policy - they have no surrender value, they are only payable upon death so
they are exempt.
Any other policy that has a surrender value is looked at as an asset and can be surrendered
and added to the spend down, assigned to a funeral home to pay for a prepaid burial.

10. Are fixed term annuities considered part of the assets and looked at by Medicaid?
Yes

11. How is the community spouse protected?
Can purchase a new car if needed
Repairs to the home
Purchase appliance needed in the home;

12. What is the current look back period on resources and Trust?
Resources - bank accounts - 5 years
Trust - 5 years

13. What are resource limits?
$2,000.00 - Medicaid only
$4,000.00 - Medically Needy, New Jersey Care

14. What is the Medicaid income limit?
$1,869.00

15. What is the ceiling for community spouse?
Minimum $20,328.00
Maximum $101,640.00

16. What is the maximum for spousal allowance?
Minimum $2,488.50