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09/26/2010

Myths and Facts about Medicaid, Surplus Income and Pooled Income Trusts

Myth: “I have too much income to get Medicaid.”  Fact:  If you are a US citizen or a documented and qualified immigrant, you can get Medicaid even if you have income over the Medicaid limit.

Myth: “I have to pay all my income over the Medicaid limit to get Medicaid.”  Fact:  If you join a Pooled Income Trust and deposit your surplus income (income over the Medicaid limit) into the trust each month, you will not have to pay the surplus income to Medicaid, and Medicaid will pay for all the services it usually covers.

Myth:  “I will lose control over the money I put into a Pooled Income Trust.”  Fact:  Joining a Pooled Income Trust is how you can keep control over your surplus money, rather than having to pay it to Medicaid.  You can use the money you deposit into the trust each month to pay your bills. 

Myth:  “I need a lawyer to apply for Medicaid and to join a Pooled Income Trust.”  Fact:  You do not need a lawyer to apply for Medicaid or to join a Pooled Income Trust.  A social worker or private geriatric care manager can help you.  Private geriatric care managers charge much less than do lawyers for helping with Medicaid applications and Pooled Income Trusts.

Myth:  "There is only one Pooled Income Trust, the NYSARC Trust."  Fact: There are different Pooled Income Trusts.  You can choose the trust that best fits your needs. 

 

Posted at 11:08 AM in Medicaid--If You Need It, You Can Get It |

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    CommunityGeriatricCare@gmail.com

    Phone 917-685-2687 Fax 212-564-7517

    Community Geriatric Care Management
    115 West 30th Street, Suite 500A
    New York, NY 10001

What we do

  • We work with older people, their family members and their communities.

    We help those who are frail continue to live at home.

    We help those who are homebound continue to be active in their communities.

Who we are

  • Roy Herndon Smith, PhD, coordinator of Community Geriatric Care Management, has:

    Worked with family members caring for home-bound older adults for over 7 years

    Practiced, supervised and taught community organizing, psychotherapy, pastoral counseling and meditation for 35 years

    Written The Mutuality of Care and numerous articles about care, counseling, religion and mourning

We help

  • Older people who live in New York City and their families

    Plan for how to maintain the quality of their lives when they become frail

    Secure and supervise the home care and other services that allow them to stay in their homes as long as possible

    Obtain government benefits and entitlements to help pay for home care and other medical needs

    If needed, find quality assisted living and nursing facilities

    Reduce the stress of living with illness, mourning or caring for someone who is homebound

    Strengthen the networks of family members, friends, neighbors and professionals necessary to secure their wellbeing

    Religious communities and other associations

    Identify isolated and frail people

    Value their wisdom and skills

    Increase their participation

    Meet their needs

    Maintain the intergenerational ties that make communities and individuals strong, healthy and compassionate

    Professionals and agencies

    Build community support for frail and homebound people

Free services

  • 1. If we receive a completed Medicaid application that we approve and, if necessary, an application for a pooled income trust, we will set up Medicaid-pending home care with the same agency that will continue to provide home care once Medicaid is approved. Clients will thus not have to pay for home care while waiting for Medicaid to be approved and will not suffer the disruption of having new aides from new home care agencies once Medicaid is approved.
  • 2. We will provide trainings for social workers, family caregivers and others about how to complete Medicaid applications and join pooled income trusts.

Educational programs

  • • It Takes a Community
  • • If You Need Medicaid, You Can Get It
  • • Joining A Pooled Income Trust
  • • Community Organizing with the Frail Elderly and Those Who Care for Them
  • • Using Meditation to Change Stress Into Compassion