General Information
Long term care (LTC) services include both Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and LTC Facility services (also known as nursing facilities). A person who has a medical need for an LTC service may apply for Medical Assistance (MA) and payment of Long Term Care (LTC) services. A person must meet all financial and non-financial eligibility requirements for MA LTC. You can apply for benefits online using COMPASS, the online resource for cash assistance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), help with child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance (LIHEAP), school meals, SelectPlan for Women and long-term living services or complete the Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Financial Eligibility Application for Long Term Care, Supports and Services and mail or give it to your local county assistance office. The county assistance office will then determine MA LTC eligibility.
Note: The following Medical Assistance LTC eligibility criteria do not apply to the Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP). See Medical Assistance General Eligibility Requirements for additional information.
Non-Financial Eligibility
A person must:
Financial Eligibility
The financial eligibility factors are:
NOTE: Any transfer of assets (income and resources) for less than fair market value in a five-year period prior to applying for Medical Assistance Long Term Care could affect eligibility for payment of long term care services.. See additional information under "Transfer of Assets" below.
Income
Most income is counted, including:
Income Limits (for one person)
Resources
Examples of resources that are counted:
Examples of resources not counted:
Resource Limits (for one person)
NOTE: The resources of a parent who is applying for or receiving Home and Community Based Services and is living with their child who is under the age of 21 are excluded.
Transfer of Assets (Income and Resources)
Any asset that was transferred, sold or given away within the past 60 months (look back period) must be reviewed by the county assistance office, when a person applies for Medical Assistance long term care. An asset includes both income and resources. The look back period is determined by the date a person is admitted to a long term care facility or assessed eligible for Home and Community Based Services and has applied for Medical Assistance long term care.
The county assistance office will review the asset transfer to determine if fair market value (FMV) has been received. FMV is the amount that a person can receive for selling the item on the open market. If FMV is not received, a period of ineligibility, known as a penalty period, is established. During the penalty period DHS will not pay for long term care services. The uncompensated value (UV) of the asset is used to figure the penalty period. UV is the difference between the FMV and the amount received for the asset. The penalty period is figured by dividing the UV by the average daily private pay rate for long term care services. The penalty period begins on the date a person is eligible for Medical Assistance long term care.
Special Rules for Married Couples (Spousal Impoverishment)
Special Medical Assistance rules apply to couples to ensure that the spouse who remains in the community (known as the "community spouse") is not impoverished when one spouse (known as the "institutionalized spouse") is admitted to a long term care facility or assessed eligible for Home and Community Based Services. All resources owned by the institutionalized spouse and the community spouse (CS) are reviewed to determine the portion of the resources (called the “spousal share” or the “protected share”) that the CS may keep.The spousal share is one-half of the couple’s total countable resources, but no less than $23,184 (for 2013) and no more than $115,920 (for 2013). These minimum and maximum figures are revised annually. You can file a Resource Assessment Form (PA 1572) to determine the spousal share. A couple should file this form when one of them enters a long term care facility or is assessed eligible for Home and Community Based Services.
The CS is not required to pay for the institutionalized spouse’s long term care services. The CS is allowed to keep all of his/her own income, regardless of the amount, and that income is not included in determining the institutionalized spouse’s eligibility for Medical Assistance long term care. If the institutionalized spouse is in a long term care facility, the CS may be eligible for a community spouse monthly maintenance needs allowance (CSMMNA). The county assistance office will use the CS’s income and shelter costs to determine the amount of the CSMMNA. If the institutionalized spouse has enough income to pay the CSMMNA, the institutionalized spouse’s income must be used first. However if a shortfall still exists after the institutionalized spouse gives all of his/her available income, an additional amount of resources exceeding the protected share of the couple’s resources can be made available to the CS to generate additional monthly income up to the CSMMNA. In addition, if the community spouse needs more income in excess of the CSMMNA because of exceptional circumstances that result in significant financial duress, you may request an increase in the CSMMNA. An application must be submitted for Medical Assistance long term care and a hearing requested.
What Medical Assistance Long Term Care Pays For