<p>[Expanded</a> Medicaid’s fine print holds surprise: ‘payback’ from estate after death | Local News | The Seattle Times](<a href=“http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022469957_medicaidrecoveryxml.html]Expanded”>http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022469957_medicaidrecoveryxml.html)</p>
<p>This was on the front page of today’s online newspaper for my area.</p>
<p>I think the medicaid issue is something to keep an eye on but it looks like it is being addressed in the state of Washington.</p>
<p>I havent heard about this issue in Calif. I am going to look for it though if I ever sign a kid up for medicaid.</p>
<p>It’s not new - it has existed for a couple of decades. No one has been hiding it. It is used primarily for long-term care.</p>
<p>But now people with assets are being forced into Medicaid. And most are clueless. Sigh.</p>
<p>This issue is not new. However, ACA could have some impact. Except… Looks like this issue is being addressed.</p>
<p>If there is a state where the medicaid issue is not being addressed, I would love to see a link.</p>
<p>“But now people with assets are being forced into Medicaid. And most are clueless. Sigh.”</p>
<p>No one forces anyone to sign up for Medicaid. (Hey, I’m no fan of ObamaCare, but this is a bum rap.) Frankly, I hope the state DOESN’T deal with it - I see no reason why estates shouldn’t be charged for long-term care. Heck, I don’t have any long-term care.</p>
<p>Okay, forced may be the wrong word but under a certain income level it is your only Obamacare option. I agree though, I see no reason why someone with assets should get taxpayer funded healthcare. Take their house. Fine by me.</p>
<p>"- I see no reason why estates shouldn’t be charged for long-term care. Heck, I don’t have any long-term care."</p>
<p>Uh-oh. We are going to go down that road now? I dont benefit so nobody else can road.</p>
<p>A lot of people live (love) that road. They take that road as often as possible. :)</p>
<p>We better check this estate recovery issue to see how it applies in various states, or not, before running with it.</p>
<p>LF, that would be the mature, intellectual thing to do. :)</p>
<p>I’m tired of being analytical.<br>
But here’s some interesting background [Medicaid</a> Estate Recovery](<a href=“http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/estaterec.htm]Medicaid”>Medicaid Estate Recovery | ASPE). Medicare.gov also has something. Note consideration for exceptions.</p>
<p>This pretty much sums up what we get with individual states rights: However, a number of states waive their future right to recovery altogether, others defer it, and yet others use a mix of approaches based on the specifics of each case.</p>
<p>Ok… </p>
<p>My youngest daughter looks like she is exempt from the clawback. That is good enough for me .</p>
<p>Screw everybody else. :)</p>
<p>Btw, I got a call today, asking if I had looked at my insurance options, had I received notice from my present carrier of options (incl a full pack of direct plans and pricing) and had I decided. She was out of state, a separate service working for BCBS, calling their clients. She also asked if I had notified my present insurer to cancel the current plan. (I got a form and did return it.) She said most people had not done this last step and run the risk of old and new plan billing, come January. So make sure you all tend to that detail.</p>
<p>I appreciated the call.</p>
<p>“Uh-oh. We are going to go down that road now? I dont benefit so nobody else can road.”</p>
<p>On the contrary, when I die, my estate will be paying whatever owe to the long-term care facility. So I think it should be equal. The reason the estate recovery was put in place in the first place (only for those first entering Medicaid after age 55) was that some folks were throwing all of their assets into the houses, etc, etc., in order to qualify for Medicaid, knowing full well that they were going to need substantial long-term care before death. So the states and feds figured that out and wanted to make sure people could indeed be covered by Medicaid without providing incentives to avoid payment for services.</p>
<p>ObamaCare does not provide long-term care services. This is purely a Medicaid issue.</p>
<p>According to this article, Washington state doesn’t just pursue payback for long term care services, but nearly all medical expenses. That could be a huge deal to someone trying to pass their estate of whatever size to their families. I realize this law could be changed (or changed back, if the legislature decides they want more tax monies), but people should really take it into consideration. The one couple profiled actually are getting married so their income will go up enough to avoid Medicaid and get subsidies. That does seem like taking extraordinary measures to get subsidies, but at least they seem happy about it.</p>
<p>This looks like a case of two laws colliding since Medicaid was asset tested previously and people routinely did a sell down before entering a nursing home. Now, it’s not only about long-term care but seems to include any services used by people over the age of 55. </p>
<p>[ORIENT:</a> Medicaid as a tax on the ‘estates’ of the poor - Washington Times](<a href=“http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/11/medicaid-as-a-tax-on-the-estates-of-the-poor/]ORIENT:”>ORIENT: Medicaid as a tax on the 'estates' of the poor - Washington Times)</p>
<p>According to the article, Washington state does not want to recover money from the new Medicaid enrollees, and they are trying to change the rule even before Jan. 1. So it is something to watch, but currently not something to worry about.</p>
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<p>“According to this article, Washington state doesn’t just pursue payback for long term care services, but nearly all medical expenses.”</p>
<p>I worked for DSHS. They don’t. That’s why the difference only comes to $3 million/year.</p>
<p>Does seem like it would be a lot more if they were going for it all. In fact 3 mil sounds pretty low for long term care. Maybe it’s all going to attorneys and admin.</p>
<p>Maybe it varies by state but my mom had to get rid of all her assets before they were “recovered”. She is still alive but spent time in a care facility and my sister handled the details but there was some scrambling to move things around so she could qualify. Now, people with assets are signing up for Medicaid in big numbers in many states. it’s an interesting question.</p>