Ask Jaleh: The Medicaid Application Process.
Video Summary
Medicaid Application Process. A Request for Assistance, which is also commonly referred to as an RFA form is generally used to apply for most Medicaid programs. With this form, the applicant must file permission steps to allow DCF to check Medicaid, medical and financial records, a form to specify which program is being applied for, and also a doctor’s statement showing the medical necessity of the applicant.
Following receipt of the RFA, the applicant will be notified by a letter containing a request for records the applicant needs to assemble in order to complete their application. Most records requested are bank statements and other financial records tending to show the financial status of the applicant, such as estate planning documents.
After all information is assembled, the case will be decided and a letter will be sent to the applicant informing them of the grant or denial of aid. Usually the decision letter is sent within 45 to 60 days of the application date. It is important to note that it is always best for a lawyer – your lawyer – to handle this process from start to finish, rather than attempting to complete this process individually or through a family representative. Organization and proper presentment of information is necessary, as is the knowledge of laws, rules and regulations, in order to successfully complete this process.
Also, it’s very important to know that the date of your application is key to determination, since in most instances the grant of benefits will be retroactive to the first day of the month in which the application is processed. If the applicant is eligible for one day of the entire month, then entitlement is good for the entire month applied for. Also, the Institutional Care Program entitlement date is the date in which the institutionalization began and the applicant is otherwise eligible. Another component of the application process is verification of U.S. citizenship. Another component is verification of residency in the state of Florida at the time of the application.
What types of financial records must be gathered to ensure complete financial disclosure for the Medicaid application process? Such types of documents include: VA benefits forms and letters, pension benefits, life insurance records, security statements, bank records, deeds, accounts payable such as notes and mortgages, tax bills such as real estate tax bills from the preceding year, vehicle registration, title papers, insurance information such as homeowner’s insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, funeral records, burial accounts, funeral and plot contracts as well as funeral deeds, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, powers of attorney, utility bills, receipts and other records showing current utility needs, HOA statements and dues, leases annuities, personal services contracts are also very important to include. It’s very important to note that the list I just provided is not an exclusive list of all the documents that must be provided in the Medicaid application process.
If you would like us to help you with your Medicaid application process, we would be honored to do so. Please give us a call at Waller & Mitchell, 727-847-2288.
- Published in Medicaid Planning, Videos
What Can Be Done If My Agent Under My Power of Attorney is Misusing Funds?
Video Summary
What can be done if my agent under my power of attorney is misusing my funds? The first thing you need to do is contact your attorney or an attorney immediately and rescind and revoke your power of attorney. Secondly, if you are over the age of 50 or 55 you should contact the Elder Abuse Line and ask the sheriff department to investigate this matter as far as crimes against the elderly as far as them misusing your funds. So the immediate response or as soon as you find out about this you need to revoke the power of attorney so that they can no longer use it, notify your bank and that way they will no longer be able to use it.
If you put someone on your account as a joint tenant, that is going to be problematic. I suggest that you remove all the money from the account and open up another account just in your name so that they do not have access to it. That is of course problematic if you are getting your monthly social security checks and pension checks in this particular account, but that is a step in the right direction and then notify Social Security and these other agencies to send the money to the new account that the joint tenant does not have access to so that they cannot misuse your funds.
If you have any questions or need any assistance, give me a call at 727-847-2288.
- Published in Estate Planning, Videos