Did you know that prior to the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, most Americans were able to count on Medicaid to assist them with long term health care. The Deficit Reduction Act changes all of that. This new law places the majority of long term health care costs on you, especially if you have assets. Unfortunately, middle class Americans will be hit the hardest with this new law.
How does the Deficit Reduction Act affect me if I need nursing home care and have assets ? Well, for the most part, you will need to exhaust your assets before you will be eligible for Medicaid. Under this new law, there is a five year look back period from the date that you apply for your Medicaid benefits. This five year look back period, is to ensure that you have not transferred assets to relatives, friends, or other individuals. If you have transferred your assets to someone, Medicaid will count this against you and you will have a period of penalty wherein you will not qualify for benefits. Basically, this means that you could be out of money and Medicaid will not pay for your nursing home care
The other side of this new law is that even if you have not transferred your assets to someone, you cannot have more than $500,00 in home equity. The majority of your assets including trusts and annuities are viewed differently under this new law.
It is important, that you consider long term care insurance as part of your retirement planning. With passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, it is a must! Unless you are independently wealthy and don''t mind coming out of your pocket with more than $10,000 per month for your prospective nursing home care! For the average person, this would be a severe financial hardship.
What age should I consider getting a long term care insurance plan ? You may want to consider in your early to mid fifties. However, it is recommended that you consult your insurance agent or financial advisor about this.
Planning is important, in order to assist you in eliminating a potentially devastating financial disaster. You want to live out the golden years of your retirement as stress free as possible. So make sure you plan for your future long term health care needs !