Elder Law Planning Game: ANSWERS

by Linda Ershow-Levenberg, Certified Elder Law Attorney (C.E.L.A.)
Go back to the game questions here.

1. The Government health insurance program that does not pay for long-term care ? Medicare

2. The Government health program that pays for long term care for financially eligible people ? Medicaid

3. The average monthly cost of a nursing home in Union County ? $9,000

4. A typical monthly income for a blue-collar retiree ? $2,000

5. Amount of assets a person can have when he applies for Medicaid ? $2000

6. The maximum amount the of countable resources that community spouse gets to keep if their spouse is applying for nursing home Medicaid ? $109,560

7. The income cap for recipients of Medicaid in an Assisted Living Facility so that higher-income people can’t be eligible ? $2,022

8. The maximum hours per week Medicaid will pay for a home health aide in a person’s home ? 25

9. The maximum number of days that Medicare will pay for skilled care in a nursing facility after a hospitalization, per spell of illness ? 100

10. The guaranteed Monthly Maintenance Income Allowance for the community spouse of a person in the nursing home Medicaid Program ? $1750

11. The retrospective review that Medicaid does of the financial transactions that occurred prior to the Medicaid application ? Look-back period

12. The length in years of the look-back period when a person applies for Medicaid ? 5

13. The length in years of the look-back period when a person applies for Medicaid if he had transferred assets into a Trust ? 5

14. The medical clearance that must be obtained before there can be Medicaid eligibility ? P.A.S. (Pre-Admission Screening)

15. What personal capabilities must be compromised for there to be medical approval for Medicaid ? 2 or more ADL's

16. Movement from bed to chair or sitting to standing ? Transfer

17. Medicaid's word for a "gift" ? Transfer

18. Medicaid’s word for the consequences of making a gift during the look-back period ? Transfer penalty

19. To whom a Medicaid applicant can give her residence without causing a transfer penalty ? Spouse, caregiver child, disabled child or sibling with an equity interest

20. Whether Medicaid will pay for the nursing home if you transferred assets and the penalty is still running ? No

21. The document that tells what your wishes are for end-of-life medical treatment ? Living will

22. The document that tells what your wishes are for end-of-life medical treatment ? Advance Directive

23. The document that tells who is to receive your property if you die ? Will

24. The document that appoints a person to act for you on business and financial decisions ? Durable Power of Attorney

25. Whether your IRA or 401K can be transferred to another person during your lifetime ? No

26. Whether your appointed Power of Attorney can give away your assets if the document doesn’t say so ? No

27. Duration of a power of attorney ? Lifetime only

28. Court proceedings necessary if there is no power of attorney ? Guardianship

29. The person appointed in the Will to handle the business of the estate ? Executor

30. The person appointed by the Surrogate’s Court to handle the business of the estate if there is no Will ? Administrator

31. Whether anyone can give out the assets of your estate if there is no Executor or Administrator ? No

32. Typical annual cost of long-term care insurance for a 65 year old person ? $4,000

33. Typical time period in months to obtain legal guardianship to accomplish estate & Medicaid planning when a person failed to plan ? 3