SHOULD YOU GET DIVORCED ... OR MARRIED ... DUE TO MEDICAID? MY MEDICAID PRIMER

Plan Early - You Might Have More Choices - Care Choices as well as Financial Choices

Medicaid Rules and Their Enforcement Continue to Change and Evolve - Including Differences Between States

Consult professionals.  Get the facts.  Understand your own situation

Bruce's "Rule of Thumb"

Long-Term Care costs are different in different parts of the country, just like other costs of living. If you (and spouse if married) have enough resources to cover 100% of these annual costs without depleting capital, then you might be OK without much further planning.  Ironically, clients and others I know in this situation have frequently done quite a bit of planning. https://www.genworth.com/about-us/industry-expertise/cost-of-care.html

Overview: Medicare vs. Medicaid

Medicare is the primary health "insurance" for many people in the United States age 65+. Eligibility is usually determined by age. Medicare broadly and over-generalized covers hospital care as well as care by doctors and other providers when you are not hospitalized. Medicare does not generally cover Long-Term Care, also known as Custodial Care.  

www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/not-covered/item-and-services-not-covered-by-part-a-and-b.html

 https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/index.html

Medicaid Overview

Medicaid has a much broader group of potential benefits.  Eligibility is broadly determined by financial circumstances.  Also ... critical for this topic ... Medicaid provides Long Term Care Services not generally provided by Medicare. Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements.  The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.  69 Million people covered as of July 2017 per site linked below.

Medicaid Long Term Care Overview

"Millions of Americans, including children, adults, and seniors, need long-term care services as a result of disabling conditions and chronic illnesses. Medicaid is the primary payer across the nation for long-term care services. Medicaid allows for the coverage of these services through several vehicles and over a continuum of settings, ranging from institutional care to community based long-term services and supports. 

CMS is working in partnership with states, consumers and advocates, providers and other stakeholders to create a sustainable, person-driven long-term support system in which people with disabilities and chronic conditions have choice, control and access to a full array of quality services that assure optimal outcomes, such as independence, health and quality of life."    SOURCE:  https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/ltss/index.html

Single Person Over-simplified Example #1: Retired MD

Certain retirement programs have in the past or continue to be independent of Social Security.  Here's an over-simplified example for possible clarity.  Suppose an MD worked for the Federal Government and retired after 35 years of service with an annual CSRS pension of $125,000.  Never married.  No children. No one else depending on her for retirement.  If she needs LTC - Long Term Care - let's say in this example her Long Term Care costs $75,000 per year.  Let's also assume she owns her own home outright.  Even after paying typical income and other taxes, let's say she is good.  Her pension pays for her LTC.  At her death her heirs-at-law inherit what they inherit.  She won't ever, in my example, use Medicaid.

Single Person Over-simplified Example #2: Retired Postal Worker

In this example, let's just say the PO Worker's total retirement income from pension and / or Social Security is $40,000. Owns the home.  No children. No other assets.  If his LTC again costs $75,000, his retirement income will pay $40,000 of it and in this hypothetical example, Medicaid might pay the rest.

Question I Don't Know - Recovery During Lifetime:  If the Postal Worker makes a complete recovery and moves back into his own home, can he now keep his $40,000 pension for the rest of his life.  Or will Medicaid try to get him to "pay back" some of what Medicaid paid for his care?

Question I Might Know - Estate Recovery After Death: Let's make the example apply more widely and now assume he has one or more children. Let's also assume the above answer is, "No, Medicaid did not try to recover any money from his pension and / or Social Security while he was alive."  Now that he has died, will the (all adult, able-bodied) children inherit his house free and clear?  Answer is unclear.  But if you read this in its entirety and look at the links, it appears that Medicaid could require the house to be sold and collect whatever "debt" Medicaid is "owed."

Estate Recovery

"State Medicaid programs must recover certain Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of a Medicaid enrollee. For individuals age 55 or older, states are required to seek recovery of payments from the individual's estate for nursing facility services, home and community-based services, and related hospital and prescription drug services. States have the option to recover payments for all other Medicaid services provided to these individuals, except Medicare cost-sharing paid on behalf of Medicare Savings Program beneficiaries.

Under certain conditions, money remaining in a trust after a Medicaid enrollee has passed away may be used to reimburse Medicaid. States may not recover from the estate of a deceased Medicaid enrollee who is survived by a spouse, child under age 21, or blind or disabled child of any age. States are also required to establish procedures for waiving estate recovery when recovery would cause an undue hardship.

States may impose liens for Medicaid benefits incorrectly paid pursuant to a court judgment. States may also impose liens on real property during the lifetime of a Medicaid enrollee who is permanently institutionalized, except when one of the following individuals resides in the home: the spouse, child under age 21, blind or disabled child of any age, or sibling who has an equity interest in the home. The states must remove the lien when the Medicaid enrollee is discharged from the facility and returns home."

Source: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/estate-recovery/index.html

Potential Strategies To Look Into

I'm repeating myself from above.  Things change. Even if / when you put something into place.  The Federal Government - our tax dollars at work - spends a large amount of money on Medicaid, including Long Term Care for those who qualify financially. Policy makers are under budgetary pressures.  So if they can spend less ... or tighten up the rules or the enforcement to try to provide financial benefits only to the "financially neediest," they might continue to try to do so.

Bruce's Introduction:  Should I Get Married or Divorced for Medicaid?

A very long time ago I was taught that people often make decisions emotionally and justify them rationally. Frequently true.  Probably in both of these cases below. Both examples have something in common.  By taking an action -- either way, depending on individual circumstances, - an individual gains some benefit they wouldn't otherwise have.

In the case of getting married, as the quote both above and below show (the same quote, repeated,) Medicaid will not attempt to recover (e.g. place a lien on real estate) from the estate of a Medicaid recipient when a spouse is living in the home.  So if you own the home yourself.  And you want the other person living in the home to retain it after you go on Medicaid and, ultimately ... die.  Then, always consult professionals but getting married would enable that other person to keep the home as Medicaid is currently run.  Also see below.

In the case of getting divorced, if, just for example, a husband and wife have $2.0 million, the wife (in the example) might not be able to keep "her" $1.0 million and let the other $1.0 million be paid for husband's care before Medicaid starts paying. According to the "Spousal Impoverishment" standards (see link below,) in 2017 the non-incapacitated spouse can keep $120,900 .  The rest would have to be "spent down"  So as the quote below shows, the healthy spouse will be able to keep significantly more money for herself if she divorces. 

Should I Get Married for Medicaid? 

"States may also impose liens on real property during the lifetime of a Medicaid enrollee who is permanently institutionalized, except when one of the following individuals resides in the home: the spouse, ... "