Medical assistance. Medicaid. Title 19. Each of these three is one and the same. Torrington, CT, elder law attorney, Debra A. Brown assists elderly residents with Medicaid planning and the processing of Title 19 applications. Because Medicaid supplements the cost of long-term care expenses, it is imperative that you not only understand how the program works but also what is necessary to meet eligibility qualifications. This often requires the advice and knowledge of an elder law attorney.

Connecticut’s Title 19 Guidelines

Within federal guidelines, each state is allowed to establish their own eligibility standards, determine the type, amount and duration of services, set the rate of payment and administer their own program. Connecticut’s eligibility requirements are complex and vast.

In order to qualify for Medicaid in Connecticut, you are allowed to have up to $1,600 in countable assets, which include cash, bank accounts, stocks and bonds. You must have a burial plot and a prepaid contract with a Connecticut funeral home. The contract must be for up to $5,400 for a non-refundable contract, up to $1,800 for a single-person refundable contract, or up to $1,500 for a married-person refundable contract. You can have term life insurance with no cash surrender value, or cash value life insurance.

If you qualify for Title 19 and use it to pay for your nursing home care, you will only able to keep a limited amount of your income for your personal needs. You may also keep part of your income to pay for unpaid medical bills, private health insurance, some medical services not covered by Medicaid and some home expenses if you are expected to return home within six months.

Your Home May Be Considered An Asset

If you plan on using Title 19 to supplement the cost of nursing home care, your house will not be considered an asset if you plan on returning home within six months, or if your spouse, a child under the age of 21, a blind or disabled adult child or your bother and sister live there and have lived there for at least a year prior to your admittance to a nursing home. However, if the equity in your home is more than $828,000, it will be considered an asset, despite any of the above.

As mentioned above, Connecticut’s guidelines surrounding Title 19 are vast and complex. For a full understanding of the state’s Medicaid program, visit this website. 

If you are looking into Medicaid Planning, contact Torrington elder law attorney Debra A. Brown. She will help you process your Title 19 application and ensure you receive the long-term care benefits you need. Call her office today at 860-496-7717, or contact her online.