2011 Medicaid Desk Reference

Resources:

  Resource Allowance for an Individual:   $13,800.

  Resource Allowance for a Couple:  $20,100.

  Some of the General Resource Disregards: Homestead up to $758,000 in equity (although there is the potential for an Estate Recovery against the value of the home), Retirement Accounts in pay status, Personal Property, $1,500 Burial Allowance (by bank account or life insurance), Burial Space, Pre-Paid Burial and Funeral under an Irrevocable Contract.

Services Provided and Budgeting:

Community Based Home Care Program

Care in home (or the community), based upon a person's medical and custodial needs. Includes but is not limited to medically necessary care not covered by Medicare, and aides for custodial care.

Look Back Period, but no Transfer Penalty Rule.

Income Allowance for an Individual: $767 + $20 if recipient is over age 65.

Income Allowance for a Couple: $1,117 + $20 if recipients are over age 65.

No guaranteed level of assets or income to be retained by spouse not on Medicaid.

Spousal Refusal Required.

Nursing Home Care

All levels of custodial and skilled care in a nursing facility.

Income Allowance for an Individual, the "Monthly Personal Needs Allowance": $50.

Spousal Monthly Minimum Maintenance Needs Allowance ("MMMNA"): $2,739.

Minimum Community Spouse Resource Allowance ("CSRA"): $74,820.

Maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance ("CSRA"): $109,560.

Look Back Period and Transfer Penalty Rules apply.

Local Regional Rates: Long Island $11,445 New York City $10,579.

Spousal Refusal Required if Non-Applying Community Spouse Has Assets or Income over the allowable MMMNA or CSRA.

Lombardi (Nursing Homes Without Walls)

Care at home (or in the community). Designed for persons who need a higher level of care than under Community Based Home Care, but who want to remain in the community. While Lombardi recipients typically receive less hours of care at home than recipients under Community Based Home Care, there are currently better Spousal Allowances and Protection (the Allowances and Protections are under attack).