Dear Liz: I am going to sell my house, pay back my reverse mortgage, spend down and go on Medicaid in order to pay for assisted living that I need. What are some good resources I can contact to help me navigate all this? I have done a lot but am still needing more help.
Answer: Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, typically doesn’t cover the room and board costs of assisted living, but many states offer Medicaid waivers that pay some assisted living expenses. Even if you qualify, though, there are typically a limited number of waivers available and you may be put on a wait list.
You definitely shouldn’t sell your home or spend down your resources before consulting with an expert. You can contact the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) for a referral to a lawyer who specializes in this complex area or use the American Council on Aging’s free locator tool to find a Medicaid planner.
The talk of making tip income tax-free has me wondering- if this passes, could it have a long-range impact on tip-workers Social Security and Medicare benefits? It strikes me that not reporting tip income would lead to reduced earnings reported, which might then have this ripple affect.