Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can the state take my assets away after I die?
Owing to federal legislation from 1993, each state is required to have a recovery program and will place liens on your assets for any benefits you received while living.

Q: Do I have to be poor to qualify for Medicaid? My friends told me that I have too much money to qualify.
There are certainly specific requirements for eligibility, but following our specific steps, IPG will guarantee your qualification.

Q: Do I have to spend all my savings and sell my assets to qualify for Medicaid?
IPG can guide you through the legitimate ways to arrange your affairs so that you can be eligible without spending down to poverty.

Q: How likely is it that I will need long-term care?
The fact is that while only a small percentage of people plan on needing care, 60% actually do at some point.

Q: Why can’t my children take care of me if they are willing?
Even the most committed and well-intentioned children find that there comes a point when they are physically unable to provide the full care their parents need. They reluctantly acknowledge the need for professional help.

Q: Doesn’t my trust protect my assets?
Trusts do a great job of avoiding probate after death. But trusts are not designed to protect you against long-term care expenses. Your assets are still vulnerable to the government.

Q: Isn’t it true that Medicaid only covers limited facilities?
Care facilities are required to accept Medicaid payment, so you can go to the facility of your choice.

Q: Is it true that giving away my assets will disqualify me for Medicaid benefits for years to come?
It’s not what you give away, but how you do it that will affect eligibility. That’s why relying on the expertise of IPG is so important.

Q: Won’t Medicare pay for my long-term care?
Medicare covers extended stays due to injury or illness, but only temporarily. On average less than 10 days of such care is paid by Medicare. And once Medicare coverage ceases, you become responsible for continued payment either through private pay or Medicaid.

Q: Why do I need help with safeguarding my assets?  Afterall, I do my own taxes and have for years!
A simple error in managing your estate could end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Medicaid system is very complex and must be navigated with extreme caution.

Q: Why do I need to worry about Medicaid when I pay for long-term care insurance now?
Check your policy to see exactly what percentage of your care is covered. You’ll likely find that your out-of-pocket still amounts to thousands of dollars per month.

Q: Isn’t Medicaid a Welfare benefit?
Medicaid is set up much like Social Security--the difference being that Social Security is paid out automatically at retirement, whereas Medicaid is paid out at time of need, specifically to cover long-term care costs. Everyone who works pays into Medicaid from each paycheck and the employer pays matching contributions. For the average person, contributions to Medicaid/Medicare by age 65 have totaled over $200,000.

Q: My V.A. will cover my long-term care costs, right?
There are roughly 4,000 veterans to each available VA bed—not nearly enough beds. Therefore only the most serious veterans qualify for the available beds. The remainder are still subject to the same rules and regulations of Medicaid as are non-veterans.