The Public Health Emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has upended our lives in ways we could never have imagined. It has also had significant implications for Medicaid benefits in Indiana for those Indiana residents receiving Medicaid coverage at home, assisted living, and nursing homes. It is essential to consider how the end of the Public Health Emergency will affect Indiana Medicaid and its beneficiaries.
One of the most significant ramifications of the end of the Public Health Emergency for Medicaid is the expiration of many of the emergency provisions that were put in place to expand access to healthcare and Medicaid during the pandemic. The Indiana Family & Social Services Administration, who oversees the Medicaid program, released an outline of the procedures it will follow once the Public Health Emergency has ended. You may access this outline here.
According to this outline, individuals who have continued to meet all eligibility requirements during the federal Public Health Emergency will be subject to regular rules starting the month after the Public Health Emergency ends: this includes responding to the ongoing verification requests when there is a change in circumstances (for example, an increase in income); this will impact most Medicaid beneficiaries. Starting the month after the Public Health Emergency ends, individuals in this group who do not respond to requests for information or who are determined to no longer qualify for coverage can be disenrolled or moved to a lesser-coverage category.
Since the declaration of the Public Health Emergency in early 2020, many Medicaid recipients have sold homes, received lump sums and/or inheritances. Medicaid eligibility was not affected by these transactions due to the protections afforded under the Public Health Emergency. Any gifting or transfers of assets that took place during the Public Health Emergency must be reported; these gifts or transfers may result in some sort of period of Medicaid ineligibility. Each case is fact-dependent; not every gift or transfer will result in a future penalty period.
If you or your loved one is a Medicaid beneficiary and have received a lump sum from the sale of a home, inheritance, etc., you may need to discuss planning options with an elder law attorney. There is no cost to meet with my asset protection team to discuss your specific case; call 812–423-1500 or click here to schedule an appointment.