There are several different Medicaid programs that address a wide variety of disabilities, healthcare, managed care, child health, mental health, developmental disabilities, and other Medicaid services designed to help those in need with limited financial ability and who are not covered by Medicare.gov. These programs provide health services for low asset and low income individuals, acting as health insurance program to provide the needed care in a variety of areas. (Many of these programs fall under the category called Medicaid Medical Assistance.) And the eligibility requirements for each of these is different. What may be required or allowed in another Medicaid program typically does not apply to all programs. Most state Medicaid’s Department of Health or Department of Human services official websites provide a review of the full scope that each state’s healthcare providers and programs that fill these needs.
The Medicaid care program that provides Medicaid benefits to individuals in need of long-term care in a nursing home setting is typically referred to as Vendor Medicaid. Vendor Medicaid is the program that reimbursement to Medicaid providers that provide nursing facility care in a care facility. When contemplating Medicaid coverage for care services. The biggest difference between almost all other Medicaid programs and Vendor Medicaid is this: Vendor Medicaid is the only program that carries restrictions on giving away assets in order meet the low asset limit requirements. Vendor Medicaid is the only program that has a Five Year Lookback Period to determine if any assets have been gifted previously. When investigating the various programs, always remember that if you see a Medicaid program that does not restrict gifting, it is almost certainly not the Vendor Medicaid program. All nursing home Medicaid eligibility requirements contain restrictions on gifting.
The other program (typically the only other program) that also restricts gifting is the home health Medicaid program that provides community based services for those needing assistance with living in the home from home health service providers (essentially “outpatient” care recipients). These Medicaid beneficiaries are also subject to gifting restrictions that could cause ineligibility.
It is important to always check for the Medicaid eligibility requirements that specifically apply to the exact program for which you may be applying, be it Vendor, or fee for service, or home health, or hospital inpatient assistance, etc.