Medicaid And VA Benefits In Florida: What To Know
Medicaid offers millions of Americans essential health coverage, especially those needing long-term nursing care. Veterans Administration (VA) benefits also assist many veterans. Understanding how these two programs intersect, however, takes work – and it is not something you can handle alone.
At Feldman & Feldman, Counsellors at Law, P.A., our experienced elder law attorneys can help you and your family sort through the options, get the care they need and protect assets for the future. We assist Coral Springs residents with their Medicaid planning and other government benefit programs.
Is Dual Eligibility For Medicaid And VA Benefits Possible?
Like Medicaid, VA benefits can be used to pay for long-term care at home, in an assisted living facility or within a nursing home for any wartime veteran or their surviving spouse. This is called an Aid and Attendance Benefit.
Dual eligibility with the VA and Medicaid is very possible, but eligible veterans must apply for VA benefits before applying for Medicaid. Because Medicaid is a needs-based, state-level program, and VA benefits are federal and unrelated to need, Medicaid expects eligible veterans to use their VA benefits toward their long-term care before Medicaid starts to contribute.
Once Medicaid eligibility is established, the VA benefit will typically be reduced (with certain exceptions made for situations where a dependent spouse has recurring medical expenses).
Both the VA and Medicaid have specific eligibility requirements. Any asset protection planning you want done must be completed well in advance so that both Medicaid’s rules and the VA’s rules can be considered.
Plan Ahead – Get Help
An experienced Medicaid planning lawyer can make sense of the interaction between your VA benefits and Florida’s Medicare program. We know how to cut the red tape and give you answers. Call Feldman & Feldman at 954-227-7320 or use our online contact form to schedule your initial consultation today.