When preparing to transition to life in a nursing home facility, you’ll have plenty of questions on your mind. The most pressing issue, however, may be: how will you afford it? While Medicaid can help cover the costs, you’ll need to fill out an application first. Here are just some of the many reasons why it pays to hire an attorney when applying for Medicaid.

3 Reasons to Hire an Attorney When Filing for Medicaid

1. Gain Peace of Mind

When you’re navigating the legal jargon and trying to keep track of deadlines on your own, it’s easy to feel like you're treading water. With a lawyer to affirm your thoughts, provide insightful answers, and make sure you’re staying on schedule, you can approach the application with confidence.

An experienced Medicaid attorney will help you solve any unfamiliar issues that come up throughout the process.

2. Avoid a Conflict of Interest

If you don’t hire an attorney, your nursing home might refer you to a non-lawyer who can help you prepare the application. However, they won’t be working solely for you. Their main loyalty will be to the nursing home, and the facility would rather have you pay privately than benefit from Medicaid.

When you hire an attorney, you can rest assured they have your best interests in mind and will work toward successful and affordable results, regardless of the nursing home’s preference.

3. Save Money

If you were to file an application with the help of someone at the nursing home, they might not know or inform you of all the other aspects of a successful filing. For example, you may need to spend down some assets to qualify for certain benefits.

If you do not meet all of the financial requirements, your application may fail, and you will have to pay for the nursing home fees privately. Unfortunately, these facilities can cost upwards of $10,000 per month.

Regardless of what you have to pay a lawyer, you’ll save thousands by getting access to Medicaid benefits with a successful application.

If you’re looking for a skilled attorney to help you file for Medicaid, reach out to Rutherford Law Office of Chillicothe, OH. Attorneys Sherri Rutherford and Chase Rutherford will work hard to fight for your rights and help you obtain the benefits you deserve. In addition to Medicaid cases, they also work in family law and estate planning. To learn more about their skills, visit their website or call (740) 775-7434 to set up a consultation.