Medicaid matters to elders and individuals with special needs because it is the only government program providing substantial help paying for long-term care. Yes, some long-term care is paid for by Medicare, but only when there is a skilled need, and usually is limited to no more than 100 days. Although anyone accessing this website can view The Medicaid Book, it is primarily intended for attorneys and other professionals interested in understanding Medicaid. We have other pages on this website written in more general terms for non-attorneys. These materials are
Chapters
- Chapter 1 – Overview of Medicaid
- Chapter 2 – Eligibility Basics
- Chapter 3 – Financial Eligibility, Generally
- Chapter 4 – Issues When there is a Community Spouse
- Chapter 5 – Working with the Client
- Chapter 6 – Planning with Real Property
- Chapter 7 – Planning with Personal Property
- Chapter 8 – The Medicaid Application
- Chapter 9 – Medicaid Fair Hearings
- Chapter 10 – Post-Eligibility Issues
- Chapter 11 – Home and Community Based Waivers
- Chapter 12 – Medicaid Estate Recovery
- Chapter 13 – SSI Eligibility and How it Relates to Medicaid
Appendix
BLOG POSTS
Medicaid Changes for Seniors in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
There are a few major changes for elders in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. First, as discussed in numerous articles cited below, it appears that reductions in funding will cause home and community based services to be limited. This could mean more seniors are forced into nursing homes because they lack support to remain […]
Recent Supreme Court Medicaid Case Does Not Change the Law
Recent Supreme Court Medicaid Case In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (US 6/26/2025), the Supreme Court decided that two plaintiffs did not have a right to use 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to enforce the any-qualified-provider provision in 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(23)(A). The abortion part of the case is not important for our analysis. This […]
Improper Use Spoils Trust
Improper Use Spoils Trust Is it possible to spoil a trust by misusing it? The answer was “yes” in S.P. v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (N.J. Super. App. Div. 2025). In that case, a brother wanted to provide housing for his sister. He did this by establishing and funding a trust that […]
2025 Georgia Medicaid Transfer Penalty
2025 Georgia Medicaid Transfer Penalty If an applicant for long-term care Medicaid (e.g., nursing home Medicaid) transfers resources for less than fair market value during the 60-month look-back period, a transfer penalty is calculated. In 2024, the Georgia transfer penalty was $10,025. Effective April 1, 2025, the penalty divisor for Georgia Medicaid applicants has increased […]
The ARC Fights to Protect Medicaid
Medicaid is critical for individuals with special needs. It pays for things no one else will pay for and it has recently come under fire. The Arc is working to protect Medicaid for its constituents. It is activating advocates to protect services for the disability community. It is also seeking donations to further its efforts. […]
2025 Spousal Impoverishment Standards
On November 15, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services posted the 2025 spousal impoverishment standards. These are the standards used to determine how the amount of income and resources that can be diverted to or retained by a Community Spouse. They also tell us the SSI rate and the Medicaid income cap. In […]
Social Security Disability versus Veteran’s Disability
The word disability doesn’t have the same meaning in all contexts. If you have a disability insurance policy, you could qualify for benefits if you have a covered condition even if you could still work. If you are a veteran, you might qualify for disability if you have specific conditions. Social Security disability, however, requires […]
Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025
On October 10, 2024, the Social Security Administration announced that Americans will increase a 2.5 percent cost of living increase in 2025. A fact sheet linked to the preset release shows that the monthly SSI rate for an individual will increase from $943 to $967. This COLA means the following (estimates) should apply beginning January […]
Medicaid’s payment of medical bills does not bar recovery from negligent party
When an injured party sues someone who negligently injured him or her, one form of damages the injured party may recover are medical expenses. However, can those expenses be recovered when they have been paid by someone else? In Bennett v. Haley, 132 Ga. App. 512 (1974), the Court said they can be recovered. The […]
Promissory Notes
When the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 changed 42 U.S.C. § 1396p, new restrictions were imposed on promissory notes. Subsection (c)(1)(I) note provides that the purchase of a promissory notes is treated as a transfer subject to the penalty rules unless the note meets the following guidelines: (I) For purposes of this paragraph with respect […]
