Is Applying For Medicaid Difficult In Indiana?
Medicaid can be difficult to apply for depending on the type of benefits that you need. You might need long term care, which could include living in a nursing home facility. To receive care in a nursing home, you have to qualify in part based on your finances and healthcare. There are many steps to completing the application, and one misstep can equate to the denial of your application. The Hawkins Elder Law attorneys, who specialize in Medicaid planning, can help you get qualified. Here’s more about applying for Medicaid in Indiana.
What Is Medicaid For Long Term Care?
Medicaid is a government aid program for low-income individuals. One of the critical benefits of Medicaid is that it can cover long term care services.
In Indiana, for you to be eligible for Medicaid, you must:
- Be a United States citizen (or lawful resident)
- Be sixty-five or older, or blind or disabled
- Satisfy income and asset limits
What Is The Process For Getting Medicaid In The State Of Indiana?
You’ll have to complete and submit the Indiana Application for Health Benefits, also known as the Medicaid application. Along with that application, you’ll need to provide proof of birth, citizenship, income, resources (e.g. assets), proof of residence, and other documents. You can apply for Medicaid online, in person at your local Division of Family Resources (DFR) office, or by calling Medicaid at (800) 403-0864. You’ll also be able to check your application status online or by calling, but you need a case number to check your status. While some parts of the Medicaid application process seem simple, the process is full of hidden stumbling blocks and pitfalls. Experienced elder law attorneys constantly monitor the application process to find and adapt to small changes that may ruin or delay an applicant’s eligibility.
How Long Does It Take For Medicaid To Be Approved?
Once your application is received and all required documents are submitted to the Division of Family Resources, they’ll begin to process your application. You’ll have to wait up to 90 days to see whether you are eligible, but you can receive an answer from Medicaid in less time. Remember that in applying for Medicaid, you’ll have to properly document your finances and health status and show that you are qualified for benefits. This is not something that you should do without discussing your situation with a Medicaid planning attorney.
What If I Have Problems Getting Approved For Medicaid Benefits?
There are many reasons why your application might not get approved, and submitting incorrect or incomplete documents to Medicaid is one of them. In many cases, people who get rejected for Medicaid apply without an experienced elder law attorney’s guidance and representation. Applicants get denied for not meeting the required income and resource limits. Some applicants get penalized for disallowed transfers within five years of applying for Medicaid. Other applicants lose their rights to keep tens of thousands of dollars in assets because they applied for Medicaid too soon or too late.
A DFR supervisor or nursing home business office manager might be able to provide you with clarity on the problems, but they can’t give asset protection planning advice. If you’ve been denied, you should receive a notice stating the reason for the denial. Although, you have a right to appeal a denial, you should speak with a qualified elder law attorney to ensure that you go about this process the right way. Of course, the best path to Medicaid approval while protecting assets begins in a conference with an experienced elder law attorney.
Hiring A Medicaid Lawyer In Indiana If You Need Benefits
To learn more about applying for Medicaid in Indiana, contact an elder law lawyer. Click here to learn more about Indiana Medicaid planning strategies.
About The Authors
Jeff R. Hawkins and Jennifer J. Hawkins co-author this blog with Thomas E. Hynes, a lawyer admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida who has a background in estate planning and elder law. Jeff and Jennifer are Trust & Estate Specialty Board Certified Indiana Trust & Estate Lawyers. They are also active members of the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Jeff is also a member of the Illinois NAELA Chapter.
Both Hawkins are admitted to practice law in Indiana, and Jeff Hawkins is admitted to practice law in Illinois.
Jeff is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the Indiana Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and he served as the 2014-15 President of the Indiana State Bar Association.
More Information
Find more information about these and other topics on YouTube and at www.HawkinsElderLaw.com. Facebook users can follow @HawkinsElderLaw on Facebook. Twitter users can follow @HawkinsElderLaw. The LinkedIn crowd can follow us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkinselderlaw. You can also call us at (812) 268-8777.
© Copyright 2021 Hawkins Elder Law. All rights reserved.
[See our Disclaimers page about relying on this website’s contents.]