Please help - Medicaid nightmare! ?

Question

I live in NJ, and I have been trying to get my mom approved for Medicaid a while. Now the nursing home tells me I have 30 days to get approval or she will be dumped at my door.

I cared for my mom, who has Alzheimer's, for six years, alone. Medicaid is asking for documentation for some transfers made to my account, the funds of which I needed to help pay for the household (mortgage, utilities, etc.). I sent the verifications in to Medicaid, but the nursing home said I will probably be declined because my mother should not have had to pay for my home. They said my home is my responsibility and she should not have to pay for anything. I think that's nuts, because I provided her with a home, and my income has suffered greatly in caring for her - not to mention my life, my sanity, everything. Is this true - can she be declined contributing to the bills? Also, can I pay back the amount she contributed to then be eligible for approval? I have heard that if what is termed as a "gift" is paid back then she may get approved. PLEASE HELP - it's Friday night and there is no one to call to ask and I can't stop crying. Thank you.

Answer 1

I hate the government, I really really do.  Such anal retentives.  I think one thing you might be able to do is get a letter from Mom's doctor stating that Mom has Alzheimer's and cannot take care of herself, and that you are her primary caregiver.  Add your own letter to that stating that because of your caregiver duties, you have had to take a reduction in pay and that the money given to you by your mother's estate was to compensate for that reduction in payment.  If she was living there at the time, it should also be declared as contribution to the household, of which she was a part.  She used the same utilities and phone, and lived under the same roof; why shouldn't she have to pay a portion of the bills??  So if she were to rent an apartment, because she didn't OWN the building she shouldn't have to pay anything??  Their logic is completely illogical.  Your home was also HER home at the time, and regardless of the circumstances, some contribution to the household finances should be expected.  

If you have the ability to pay back what she contributed (even though you rightfully shouldn't have to), call the Medicaid rep and ask them if this would expedite approval.  If you get another runaround, ask for their supervisor, and just keep going up the chain as far as you can.  IMO what she paid is NOT a gift, but typical household expenses that we ALL incur throughout our lifetimes.  I would talk to Medicaid directly about that, not the nursing home; the nursing home might be familiar with Medicaid, but they are not experts.  Only Medicaid can tell you if Medicaid will approve or deny based on those payments, not a nursing home.  The nursing home has nothing to do with the approval process.