1. What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?

Medicaid is a joint federal-state program of medical assistance to eligible needy persons. Medicare is health insurance for
persons age 65 & older and for some disabled persons.

2. When is a person eligible for Medicaid?

Usually, for the elderly, the recipient must be age 65 or older, a U.S. citizen (or a resident) and financially needy.

3. Will Medicaid pay for the cost of nursing home care?

Yes, for a recipient who qualifies under the program.

4. What are the eligibility criteria for an elderly person?

The recipient must have been institutionalized for thirty (30) days or more, require nursing home placement as ordered by the physician and meet the income and asset tests for Medicaid.

5. What is the income test for a recipient?

The recipient may not receive gross income of more than $6,572 per month (2009) for the Denver Metro Area. (This amount goes up slightly each year and is different in other regions of Colorado.) If an applicant's gross income exceeds $2,022 but is less than the maximum, then the applicant's income must be funneled through an income or "Miller" trust.

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Law Office of Paul Mitchell, LLC
Estate & Medicaid Planning Attorney
3300 S. Parker Road, Suite 215
Aurora, CO 80014
866-643-8532 (toll free)
303-872-5239 (local)
303-338-9525 (fax)

Based in Aurora, Colorado, the Law Office of Paul Mitchell, LLC serves clients throughout the Front Range and Denver Metropolitan areas, including those in Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Englewood, Parker, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, and Lone Tree; as well as Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Jefferson County and Adams County, CO.