Jane calls us to relate the same problem that many Americans today are coping with, trying to care for aging parents. She calls because Dad’s health is rapidly deteriorating and she fears he will need nursing home care. I ask about Mom’s health. Jane replies that she is healthy. And here is the twist, where the story becomes more complicated.
Jane tells me that Mom and Dad have been separated for years, never divorced, just living separate lives under separate roofs, with separate assets. “Dad was never easy to live with”, she tells me, “but Mom wasn’t the type to file for divorce. It wasn’t acceptable.” “So”, she asks me, “we can spend down Dad’s assets and then qualify him for Medicaid, right?”
“Well”, I tell her, “it is a bit more complicated than that”. Under Medicaid rules, because they are still married, all their assets are combined for purposes of calculating how much to spend down. Mom may have to spend some of her assets for Dad’s care even though they have been living single lives for years. “Is there anything we can do,” Jane asks, as I hear the desperation in her voice.
Divorce is still an option, although it could be considerably more difficult if Dad doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand the legal process and consent to a divorce settlement. There is also the matter of the State scrutinizing the divorce, especially if Mom has accumulated and wants to keep more than 50% of the combined assets. You see, the State assumes the divorce was obtained for the purpose of qualifying for Medicaid. If Mom keeps more than half of the assets Dad would probably be turned down for benefits. There may also be other strategies that we have discussed for married couples that could be employed to preserve assets for Mom but, although they are married under the law, they are not really “together”. So preserving Dad’s assets for Mom and vice versa is not the goal.
As Jane puts it, “Mom and Dad have lived separate lives for many years. Mom has struggled to accumulate her own assets and become self-sufficient. How can I tell her that she will lose some of her hard-earned money?” An answer is not easy to give. I do, however, have one for others who may one day be in that situation. If any of Jane’s story sounds familiar to you, don’t wait till long term care is staring you in the face. Plan ahead and solve the problem before it reaches crisis proportions or you’ll be faced with the dilemma that Jane and her family face.
For further information and advice in any Medicaid matter, do not hesitate to contact me at 888-800-7442, or email fniemann@hnlawfirm.com.
By Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq., a New Jersey Medicaid Attorney