© Lisa F. Young | Dreamstime.com

It’s the conversation people don’t have until they have to, but by then, it’s too late.

The fact is that in 2010, more than 7,000 people turned 65 years old or older every day, a figure that is predicted to rise in 2011. Further, an AARP survey revealed that only 4 out of 10 of those people feel they will be financially secure for their golden years.

For many, that lack of financial stability will transform from being a worry to becoming a crisis if they discover they’ll need any kind of assisted living. That’s why Gabriel Heiser, an attorney with more than 25 years of experience in nursing home law, believes that people should start planning now, even if they aren’t close to their 65th birthday.

“The average monthly cost of a nursing home today is $6,917 per month, and a typical Alzheimer’s patient will spend $395,000 for their nursing home care after diagnosis,” said Heiser, author of How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets (www.MedicaidSecrets.com). “Those costs are only going to rise, so it’s important to plan now. One important benefit to consider is Medicaid, which can help offset a good amount of those costs, but only if you know what it takes to qualify for those benefits.”

The mistake a lot of people make is thinking that they can’t qualify for Medicaid, according to Heiser.

“Many feel that because they own a home or have some assets that they can’t qualify for Medicaid help with their nursing home and doctor’s bills,” he said. “The truth is there are a variety of assets people can own and still qualify. It’s just a matter of knowing the rules, and making a plan to meet those requirements.”

Heiser listed the asset limits for those applying for Medicaid. They include:

• Cash — You can possess $2,000 cash that will not be counted as an asset in determining your Medicaid eligibility.
• Home — There is a $500,000 exclusion toward your home, meaning that if your home is valued at $500,000 or less at the time of your application, it is excluded as an asset. Some states use the higher permitted exemption of $750,000.
• Car — Up until recently, you could exclude only one car at a value of $4,500 or less, however that law has been changed. Now, one automobile of ANY current market value is excluded on your application.
• Funeral and Burial Funds — If you have a pre-planned funeral or memorial arrangement, the entire value of that plan is excluded. If you do not, a separate bank account that contains $1,500 toward funeral expenses can be excluded. If you have pre-purchased burial plots, you can exclude not only the costs of the plot for the applicant, but for the entire family, and still be eligible for Medicaid.
• Property — According to federal law, any real or personal property that is essential to self-support, regardless of value or rate of return, is excluded. That could include farms, rental properties and other real estate investments that generate income necessary for self-support. For rental income, however, the property must generate at least six percent of its value annually in order to qualify for the exclusion.
• Life Insurance — Only the cash value of a life insurance policy owned by the applicant is counted, thus, all term policies are ignored.

“There are so many other rules that can benefit those who aren’t sure they’ll have enough when the time comes,” Heiser added. “The key is to plan and act now. These laws exist for your protection, and avoiding the discussion and the planning necessary to take care of the potential complications just because it is an unpleasant topic will only result in a more unpleasant conversation when you realize you’re not ready when the worst happens. That can be a very expensive dilemma. Peace of mind right now, however, won’t cost a dime, and could save you hundreds of thousands of dimes later.”