Medicaid is a federal and state financial medical assistance program. It provides a wide range of medical services to the aged and disabled, and it is needs based. This means that in order to qualify, an individual cannot exceed certain income and resource limitations.
The federal government provides a significant portion of the financing for the Medicaid program. In order for North Carolina to receive federal funding, the state must comply with the applicable federal statutes and regulations. However, each state is allowed to interpret the rules and set differing guidelines; therefore the qualification rules are not exactly the same from state to state.
It covers virtually all of the gaps in Medicare insurance. Medicaid pays the Medicare part A and part B deducibles and co-insurance for many recipients. It also has no maximum stays for most medically necessary services, including nursing home care.
Generally speaking, Medicaid provides for the basic care of the recipient, but it does not cover incidental expenses like haircuts or beauty shop charges. However, once a recipient is qualified for Medicaid, the individual is allowed to retain a portion of his or her monthly income to meet those expenses. This retained income is called the monthly personal need benefit (MPNB). The North Carolina MPNB $30 per month.
Medicaid planning works to make a person eligible for Medicaid, while preserving as much of his or her resources as possible for the benefit of other family members, including ones spouse.
There are two types of Medicaid planning:
Medicaid Pre-Planning occurs when one expects to enter a nursing home some time in the future. Medicaid Crisis Planning occurs when one is confined in or is about to enter a nursing home, is not expected to return home, has anticipated longevity, exhausted Medicare benefits and been asked to self-pay
Crisis planning is much more common because most people optimistically think a nursing home stay will never happen to them. When a nursing home stay becomes a reality, the family then recognizes the very high cost and addresses the situation.
To qualify, one must be:
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