| mingly endless paper work and the grindingly slow | | | | conducted face-to-face. This differs from county to |
| inefficiency of the government's processing system | | | | county, throughout the state of course, but as a |
| can make Medicaid application appear to be a | | | | general rule of thumb, either you or a legal, eligible |
| daunting, if not impossible, task. Add to that the fact | | | | representative for you, will have to go to the local |
| that many state and local offices often fail to uphold | | | | office to initiate the application process. Some offices |
| the federally mandated guidelines, fail to file paperwork | | | | even limit the actual completion of the application to |
| on time and in completion, and make errors in rendering | | | | their case workers. Know who you need to see, who |
| dispositions on applications, and the applicant should | | | | may go in your stead if you can't, and what they may |
| take heed to be as well-prepared to ensure the | | | | need to take with them before attempting to file your |
| success of his/her application for assistance as | | | | Medicaid application. |
| possible. Following are some issues that should be | | | | 5.) Know your paperwork - The Medicaid application is |
| addressed before and during filing to ensure that your | | | | a multi-page document. Each question's answer must |
| application for Medicaid is handled with success and | | | | be supported with other legal or medical |
| not met with unnecessary delays or denials. | | | | documentation. These support documents might |
| 1.) Know what you want and what you can get - With | | | | include: social security cards, Medicare cards, health |
| many different Medicaid assistance programs | | | | insurance cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, |
| available, the applicant should be well-versed in which | | | | death certificates, life insurance policies, property |
| programs he might be in need of or qualify for. Some | | | | deeds, car registrations, monthly household bills, funeral |
| programs focus on individuals with various physical | | | | arrangement documents, pay or pension stubs, and |
| needs or ailments, such as Alzheimer's Disease. Still | | | | financial statements typically going back three years |
| other programs have strict income and asset limitation | | | | prior to the time the Medicaid application is filed. The |
| requirements. How much you make and/or how much | | | | local office can obtain certain information from its |
| you own can affect your eligibility status for these | | | | computer records, should you need it. They should also |
| programs. Applying for the right program or programs | | | | be able to help you in obtaining records from the |
| can make the difference between acceptance and | | | | state's Office of Vital Statistics, should you be missing |
| denial of your application. | | | | any birth, death, or marriage certificates that may be |
| 2.) Know your deadlines - Filing too soon for Medicaid | | | | required. The IRS regularly sends income and financial |
| assistance can be as deadly to the success of your | | | | records to local offices, and your Medicaid can be |
| application as missing a deadline. Certain assets may | | | | denied or even revoked if certain vital financial |
| have to be liquidated or transferred first to meet | | | | information is withheld. Medicaid fraud is taken |
| income eligibilities. Certain paperwork may have to be | | | | seriously. It is better to not file until all your supporting |
| completed by your medical practitioner. Likewise, | | | | paperwork is in order than to file without it and risk |
| missing a filing deadline, or waiting too long to produce | | | | denial or worse. Having all of your ducks in a row and |
| certain documentation may doom your application to | | | | all your paperwork lined up behind them can greatly |
| denial, as well. Filing during a period of ineligibility is never | | | | enhance the chances of your application's success, as |
| a good idea, as that can lead to serious delays in the | | | | well as speed up the application completion itself. |
| completion of the application process. Knowing when | | | | 6.) Know your rights - Medicaid application success |
| to file, and when to file what paperwork will greatly | | | | depends not only on you, but on the individuals at your |
| enhance your chances of success. | | | | local office who manage your case for you. The |
| 3.) Know your abilities - Most Medicaid applicants must | | | | federal government has mandated that all Medicaid |
| prove that they are unable to care for themselves in | | | | claims must be decided upon within 90 days. An |
| the course of everyday living. You will have to | | | | administrative law judge can expedite an application |
| demonstrate through a physical exam that you can no | | | | disposition at a fair hearing. If your application disposition |
| longer dress yourself, feed yourself, bathe yourself | | | | is taking longer than you think it should, you may need |
| and attend to your other basic everyday needs. This | | | | to arrange for just such a fair hearing to be held. This |
| exam is usually conducted by a medical practitioner or | | | | will involve retaining an attorney, but it could save you a |
| someone affiliated with an agency such as a hospice, | | | | wait time of a year or more to learn whether or not |
| or institution such as a nursing facility. If you perform | | | | your expenses are covered by Medicaid benefits, and |
| too well on this exam, you may not receive your | | | | to what extent that coverage will take. |
| application approval. A mental exam is often a part of | | | | Applying for Medicaid benefits for assisted living may |
| this exam, as well, to determine if, even though you | | | | be a necessary evil, but the process itself doesn't |
| may be physically capable of looking after yourself, | | | | have to be devilish. Knowing these 6 simple basics can |
| your mental state prevents you from doing so. | | | | speed the application disposition process and have you |
| 4.) Know your county's procedures - Most Medicaid | | | | well on your way to application approval, without |
| intake interviews, at least the initial ones, must be | | | | anxiety, delays or denial demons. |