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Chandler ALTCS/Medicaid Lawyer

What is ALTCS? What is Medicaid? If you or your loved one requires assisted living, nursing home, group home, or home-based health care help, you may have heard of these two terms. For many, it is the last resort they have to pay for the care and housing they need.

The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) is Arizona’s Medicaid Program that aids those who need help paying for long-term care, like assisted living, including those who are 65 or older, disabled, or blind. A Chandler ALTCS/Medicaid lawyer could answer any questions you may have about providing long-term care for your loved one. By working with an understanding attorney, you could rest assured your loved one will be cared for.

What Does ALTCS Pay For?

  • Full coverage of acute care services – for care for injuries or short-term illnesses
  • Assisted Living, Nursing Home Care & Memory Care
  • Home and community-based services
  • Services for developmentally disabled adults and children

Who Qualifies for ALTCS?

Determining whether you qualify for ALTCS can be confusing and mind-numbing process but we understand this system and can provide clarity and stress-relief by handling the entire application process for you, from pre-planning to application submittal, we have you covered.

An applicant must meet the following general criteria before starting the financial ALTCS assessment:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or a legal alien
  • Be 65 or older;
  • Have a medical need;
  • Meet income limits; and
  • Meet resources/asset limits.
  • Must be an Arizona resident, with the intent to stay in Arizona
  • Must have a Social Security number
  • Must reside in their personal home, a medical institution or an approved home-based community setting
  • Must be cooperative and provide verifying documents to ALTCS

Medical Requirements

To meet the medical requirements for ALTCS, applicants must undergo an in-person medical screening process known as the Pre-Admission Screen (PAS). An applicant’s health is reviewed and examined for aspects such as continence, behavior, and whether the applicant requires assistance with daily activities.

ALTCS determines medical eligibility by assigning a numerical score based on the PAS evaluation and previous medical records. As long as applicants genuinely need daily, hands-on assistance, they should not have difficulty meeting ALTCS medical requirements.

Financial Eligibility Requirements

The financial requirements for the ALTCS program are unnecessarily confusing and it is common for most people to struggle with this portion of the eligibility process. Our Chandler Medicaid attorneys could help navigate this process and use best efforts to get you or your loved approved for ALTCS/Medicaid. The financial assessment involves a close inspection of applicant’s income and assets, both of which must fall below a certain specified amount. ALTCS income and asset limits are also based on an applicant’s marital status, with the limits being quite different for married applicants compared to a single applicant.

ALTCS Monthly Income Limits

Here, income means much money coming in each month income. For Medicaid Income Limits, whether an applicant is married or single determines the income max they can have under the ALTCS program rules:

  • For example, A single applicant can have up to $2,349* in monthly income
  • Compare that with a married applicant applying for ALTCS alone with limit of $2,349* in gross monthly income and their spouse’s income is not considered.
  • Married applicants both applying, each spouse must have an income at or below $2349, or must have a combined income of no more than $4698; depending on placement.

If you are doing this planning for yourself or someone you care about and they are over the income limit, our local ALTCS attorneys could help by crafting a plan to help get you or your loved one to meet the income requirement.

ALTCS Total Asset Limit

Here, think how much access to cash in the bank and other accounts. For Medicaid Asset Limits, whether an applicant is married or single again determines the asset max a person can have to qualify:

  • For example, a single applicant can only have a max of $2,000 in the bank/access to cash at the time they apply for ALTCS.
  • Compare that with a married applicant applying for ALTCS is allowed to keep a certain amount of assets.
  • If you or your loved one is over the ALTCS Asset limit, there’s still hope, as there are several tools that can be used to protect a person’s assets while helping to qualify them for Medicaid. Schedule a complimentary consult with one of our ALTCS lawyers to help create a customized strategy session.

Speak with a Chandler ALTCS/Medicaid Attorney Today

If you are over these limits or confused about the process, we can help plan for long term care financing. Our team of experienced Chandler ALTCS/Medicaid lawyers have the knowledge to help create a plan to get you or your loved one Medicaid-Ready. So take that first step to peace of mind, call us to schedule a free consultation with one of our trustworthy attorneys.