Medicaid, also known as MassHealth, is the joint federal and state program that provides public benefits to pay for the care of individuals who are medically and financially eligible because they do not have sufficient assets to cover the costs themselves. If the individual was age 55 years or older and received MassHealth benefits during his or her lifetime, the MassHealth Estate Recovery Unit (“ERU”) is responsible for collecting reimbursement for the costs paid by the Commonwealth. Reimbursement comes from the deceased person’s probate estate. Under Massachusetts law, the ERU must be notified when probate pleadings are filed with the probate court. Thereafter, the ERU files a claim against the probate estate to reserve the right to be paid from the estate. As the recipient’s house is typically the largest asset remaining to be probated, the ERU is often reimbursed from its sale proceeds.
A recent decision by the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts highlights the importance of understanding what happens when a person who has received Medicaid benefits during his or her lifetime passes away. In the Estate of Jaqueline Ann Kendall (SJC-12881, December 28, 2020), the Supreme Judicial Court held that the Commonwealth was not entitled to reimbursement from Ms. Kendall’s probate estate (consisting of 50% ownership of a house) because the ERU waited too long to file its claim. While it may seem that the decision favors procrastination for families whose loved ones were MassHealth recipients, this is not necessarily the case. The ERU is permitted under the law to file probate pleadings if no one else steps forward, and may become more aggressive in doing so following the Kendall case.
A better strategy for protecting your assets from nursing home costs is to be proactive and undertake long-term care planning. This may mean conveying property subject to a retained life estate, or crafting a so-called “Medicaid Trust” or “Irrevocable Income Only Trust”, or other options that best fit your needs and goals.
At Samuel, Sayward & Baler LLC, an elder care attorney knowledgeable in long-term care planning will guide you through the advantages and disadvantages of your long-term care planning options. Our estate planning attorneys can help you to avoid probating your house and the subsequent MassHealth claim, and preserve its value for the benefit of your children, in the event you require MassHealth benefits during your lifetime.
Attorney Abigail V. Poole is an associate attorney with the Dedham firm of Samuel, Sayward & Baler LLC which focuses on advising its clients in the areas of trust and estate planning, estate settlement and elder law matters. She is an active member and current Vice President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). This article is not intended to provide legal advice or create or imply an attorney-client relationship. No information contained herein is a substitute for a personal consultation with an attorney. For more information visit ssbllc.com or call 781/461-1020.
January, 2021
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