If you are ever confronted with the fact that your
spouse needs nursing home care, the shock can be devastating. Besides the
emotional drain, the financial impact can put you in a serious bind.
Medicaid will cover expenses as long as you don’t
have much money. And if you’re wealthy, you can afford the cost of private
care. But if you fall in middle with $300,000 in savings for example, you could
be on the hook for $10,000 to $20,000 a month for your spouse’s care. Of course
you could spend down that money to qualify for a Medicaid-paid facility.
However, that would leave you with next to nothing for your own needs.
One option to consider is a Medicaid compliant
single-premium immediate annuity. The amount you put into this annuity won’t
count against your spouse’s Medicaid eligibility. This type of annuity is purchased
during times of crisis when a doctor recommends nursing home care or when a
short-term rehab stay becomes a long-term one.
For an example of how this could work, assume you
and your spouse have saved $300,000 over your lifetimes. Medicaid rules vary
depending on which state you live in. Let’s say for this example you live in a
state that will let you keep $100,000 in assets, plus your home.
Since your state will let you protect $100,000, the
$200,000 balance will be available for your spouse’s nursing home costs. But
you could take that $200,000 and buy a Medicaid Compliant annuity that will pay
you a monthly income for the rest of your life … no matter how long you live.
And if you die before your spouse, the income will go towards his or her care.
A Medicaid compliant immediate annuity will allow
your spouse to qualify for Medicaid without spending down your savings. At the
same time you’ll have a guaranteed stream of income each and every month for as
long as you live. For the full details contact a financial advisor and an elder
care attorney who are familiar with the rules in your state.
