If you have a loved one on Medicaid who is receiving nursing home care or in-home services, you have probably heard the word “redetermination.” It may sound like nothing more than another piece of paperwork, but it is something you need to take seriously.
Every year, Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) reviews Medicaid cases to make sure the person still qualifies. FSSA generally sends a renewal notice before the redetermination date. The paperwork needs to be completed and returned on time, along with any financial information FSSA requests.
This is where families can run into trouble. Sometimes the notice gets sent to an old address. Sometimes a bank statement is missing, a form is not signed, or a change in income or assets was not reported. And sometimes families assume that because nothing has changed, they do not need to do anything.
Unfortunately, any of these problems can lead to Medicaid coverage being discontinued. Getting benefits restored after they have been terminated can be much more difficult than keeping everything up to date in the first place.
This is one of the reasons we stay involved after a Medicaid application is approved. If our office is handling your loved one’s Medicaid case, we do not simply get the application approved and walk away. We keep track of the annual redetermination, help gather the necessary documents, communicate with FSSA, and respond if additional information is requested.
That means one less deadline for your family to worry about. Getting approved for Medicaid is important, but staying eligible is just as important. For families already dealing with an aging parent, a spouse in a nursing home, or the day-to-day challenges of long-term care, keeping up with Medicaid paperwork can become overwhelming.
Our office helps families navigate Indiana Medicaid and works to protect assets for people who are paying privately for nursing home care. If we are already handling your Medicaid case, we will continue to help with the redetermination process. If you are not currently working with us and would like to learn how we can help protect assets while qualifying for Medicaid to help cover the nursing home costs, call our office at 812–423-1500.