Medicaid Planning - What does it mean? - Hurley Elder Care Law | Georgia's #1 Certified Elder Law Attorney

Medicaid Planning What does it mean?
March 11, 2025
POSTED IN: Medicaid Planning TAGS: Georgia Medicaid, Married Couples, Medicaid
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People throw around the phrase Medicaid Planning, but what does it actually mean? First, when skilled nursing-level care is necessary, many families face the difficult question of how to pay the bill.Nursing homes in the Atlanta area cost over $10,000 per month! Even the most diligent savers find this difficult to sustain.Despite many years of working and saving, families are concerned that they will not have enough money to cover the cost of care.Very simply put, a Certified Elder Law Attorney can help you implement a plan to qualify for Georgia Nursing Home Medicaid while preserving assets.

This is called Medicaid Planning.When your spouse needs Medicaid for long-term careThis weeks blog will discuss qualifying for Medicaid as a married couple.This can become quite complex due to each spouses different health concerns, income and assets.We hear about this situation frequently: I wont have any money to live on if my husband gets on Medicaid.Or my spouse has just transitioned from rehab to long-term care at a nursing home.

The business office is talking to me about Medicaid, but Im scared that I will have no money to live on if he gets on Medicaid.Maybe I should bring him home.Protecting assets for a healthy spouseMany spouses fear they will have no money to live on if they apply for Medicaid for nursing home care for their ill spouse.In many ways, Medicaid laws are more generous for those with a spouse still at home.

The rules allow a married individual to get on Medicaid without spending all of the couples assets and income.Let us put your mind at ease.Working with families to get the best care for their loved ones while determining the options to pay for care is a hallmark of our practice.There is good news! Georgia makes an effort to protect the well spouse (also known as the community spouse) through laws and regulations that apply enhanced asset limits, allow for spousal income diversions, and avoid or delay Medicaid estate recovery for married couples when one spouse is in a nursing home.

Medicaid does not want the community spouse to be impoverished by an ill spouses nursing home costs or force someone from the family home.The Elder Law ToolboxCouples should always visit an experienced elder law attorney when faced with needing a nursing home.We can use many tools in our elder law toolbox to assist most of our married couple clients in saving 100% of their assets and most of their income.These planning techniques include transfers between spouses, burial exemptions, life insurance, retirement distributions, QITs (Miller Trust), spousal Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance, spouses who still work, ownership of multiple properties, rental income, and more.

Once again, these terms may sound unfamiliar, but remember, there are always solutions to help save assets and income when you have a Medicaid plan.Avoid the spend down by working with a Certified Elder law AttorneyEvery familys situation is unique, and Hurley Elder Care Law can tailor a plan just for you.There is no need for to just spend down when you do proper Medicaid planning.Experience counts, and you should not try any of these methods alone.

Repairing a bad plan is always more expensive than doing it correctly from the beginning.Download our short video to learn more about nursing home Medicaid.Our holistic approach and white-glove service will help guide you through this process as smoothly as possible.Our number one goal is to get you the best financial result while finding quality care for your loved one.

Call Hurley Elder Care Law today at 404-843-0121.
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Posted in Medicaid PlanningTags: Georgia Medicaid, Married Couples, Medicaid

Posts navigation Navigating Nursing Home Medicaid in Georgia: What You Need to Know
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Client TestimonialsAll I can say is Wow ! I have never seen a team attack and solve a problem like Hurley.We lost our father and two weeks later our mother suffered a severe stroke.

Nursing home costs were draining their life savings, but Hurley found a solution and got things under control.Gary G.Hurley Elder Care Law went to work for my Mother and navigated all of the Government red tape and got her approved for Medicaid in short order.I, as her POA, could not even begin to climb the mountain of paperwork on my own.David Q.Very comfortable atmosphere.They treat you like you are one of the family.Val B.It's impossible to accurately describe the lost feeling of realizing you need power of attorney, updated will and general guidance all of a sudden when dealing with a parent with dementia.

The firms responsiveness has been superb, their work flawless and their advice kind, compassionate and professional.I'll forever know that their guidance prevented us from making many bad decisions.Neal R.Superb service through a difficult maze of governmental regulations and requirements which are not navigable by an individual without a depth of knowledge that far exceeds mine.Wallace M.Due to aging, escalating health and cost concerns for both my husband and myself, I chose to work with Hurley Elder Care to do care and estate planning.I am so very pleased with the result.

I have a much improved understanding of the complexity of this process, the necessary documents, timing, regulations and the need for professional guidance.Gina M.
I would highley recommend Jennifer Ghorley and her paralegal, Kierstan Dickey, for any issue regarding senior law.They not only prepared wills for my husband and I, but also helped me through a probate court procedure after my husband's death.They were very thorough, patient and always ready to answer any question that i might have had.

Nancy Alexanderread moreread less Nancy Alexander 2/21/2025 A great institution that provides a much neglected but critical role in healthcare and beyond.Nola Hurley is an incredible face to the group and their team of attorneys are some of the most knowledgeable professionals who have thought through some life affairs that catches many off guard.I plan to use their services for family and professional referrals.read moreread less Sosena Kebede 11/11/2024 I couldnt have had a more pleasant experience when trying to navigate a situation that I wasnt prepared for.

Hurley Elder Care Law as a whole and the many people who assisted me were so kind, considerate and helpful every step of the process I was going through.I personally would like to thank Megan, Paul, Jennifer and especially Kiersten for helping me, keeping me on track and keeping me informed all the way through.I am very grateful.

Anyone is in need of a friendly and super law firm.I Highly recommended Hurley Elder Care Lawread moreread less Jim Anders 10/02/2024 I have had the privilege to work with Hurley Elder Care at a time in my life when I thought my world would crumble dealing with a difficult situation with my elderly parents.I cannot say enough nice things about the staff (specifically Kaila and Nicole).

These two kept me calm and answered all of my questions quickly.The dust has finally settled and I am beyond thankful for Mr.Hurley and his above and beyond staff!! I HIGHLY recommend this law firm for your elderly needs!!read moreread less Marci Ray 9/27/2024 Highly recommend Hurley Law.

Everyone was so helpful.Kelsie helped me through an extremely tough time with my Mom.Kelsie, Andrew and all of the staff got back to me quickly and walked me though everything.

Thank you so much!!!!read moreread less Tricia Woodward 8/15/2024 During my wife's illness and eventual passing.I can't express the professionalism and compassion I recieved from this law group.They were and are friends who I'll never forget.read moreread less Richard Nicholson 8/15/2024 The staff is very friendly and professional! The office is in a great location.

Everything was explained thoroughly.Great team of lawyers for your estate planningread moreread less denise bradley 8/07/2024 Wonderful law firm to work with.Everyone is so helpful and friendly.

They take time to answer questions and listen to your needs but are extremely efficient in delivering the documents required.Amazing experience all the way around!read moreread less David Dorsett 8/03/2024 Very knowledgeable and efficient! Smooth transaction handled professionally!read moreread less doris housley 7/17/2024 Caring professionals who have helped me feel much more secure about the future.read moreread less Jan Batson 7/16/2024 We were pleased with the methodical, thorough approach Hurley used to update or wills and handle details of our estate planning.We highly recommend their services.read moreread less Don Barnett 5/17/2024 We had a great experience with Hurley Elder Law.

They helped us put my parents wills, advanced directive and POA in order.They hold informative classes helping families to navigate all the new policies, laws and resources.Highly recommend.read moreread less Lisa McIntyre 5/17/2024 I needed to redraft my will, health care directive and power of attorney after my divorce and estrangement from a child.

Needless to say, it was an emotionally delicate process but Jennifer was incredibly sympathetic and really knows her stuff! Shes uber-professional but personable and the entire revision process took a matter of several weeks and was fairly priced.I love that the firm sends newsletters with articles that are of interest to those in the later stages of life and their loved ones who might be caring for them.Nobody enjoys thinking about their eventual demise but it must be done if you want to make it easier for those left behind.

Highly recommend!read moreread less Karen Stearns 4/10/2024 Working with Jennifer and her team at Hurley was a great experience.Communication is excellent and they were very professional and efficient throughout the entire process.Highly recommend them!read moreread less Harris Wattles 3/08/2024 Wish I could give 10 stars.

We left the meeting knowing we had received excellent advice.Advice was very clear and easy for my mother to understand.We feel so lucky to have found Hurley Elder Care Law.read moreread less Tammy Davis 2/04/2024 I went to Hurley to get help for my wife.

Everyone involved in the process has been informative, attentive, and compassionate.Hurley is definitely the place to go when you need help!read moreread less D Gooden 2/04/2024











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