whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 16, 2015 15:39:39 GMT -5
So that kind of goes along with what I am saying - we have this insane programs and we go from one extreme to another. I get it that it's impossible to create a perfect system and perfect programs, but there is just so much waste and and the same time restrictions.... The state of ME is trying to create a means testing for foostamps and/or welfare - if you have $5K - you are out. I understand the reasoning, but like I said - I think it either creates fraud or makes it harder for honest people to climb out of poverty or survive if they are disabled. I grew up in ME and can attest to the fact that in the town I grew up in, there are more Work Comp and welfare/food stamp scammers than people who have jobs. Its absolutely ridiculous. They are perfectly capable of "cash" jobs but one that involves a W2? LOL. They also all have late model ATVs and sleds, huge 4x4 trucks to haul them and have lots of time to go riding and hunting. People have created their own little ecosystem with family members as "caregivers" (they get checks too as do the kids) while the taxpayers foot the bill for all the toys. It is very similar to an immigrant community in MD that I witnessed. Minus the ATVs and sleds and hunting. There was actually a scandal there recently. There was a huge money laundering operation going in one of their pharmacies - Medicaid was paying for all kinds of things.
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Post by mojothehelpermonkey on Oct 16, 2015 16:32:20 GMT -5
So that kind of goes along with what I am saying - we have this insane programs and we go from one extreme to another. I get it that it's impossible to create a perfect system and perfect programs, but there is just so much waste and and the same time restrictions.... The state of ME is trying to create a means testing for foostamps and/or welfare - if you have $5K - you are out. I understand the reasoning, but like I said - I think it either creates fraud or makes it harder for honest people to climb out of poverty or survive if they are disabled. I grew up in ME and can attest to the fact that in the town I grew up in, there are more Work Comp and welfare/food stamp scammers than people who have jobs. Its absolutely ridiculous. They are perfectly capable of "cash" jobs but one that involves a W2? LOL. They also all have late model ATVs and sleds, huge 4x4 trucks to haul them and have lots of time to go riding and hunting. People have created their own little ecosystem with family members as "caregivers" (they get checks too as do the kids) while the taxpayers foot the bill for all the toys. Its just a different version of the "inner city" lifestyle. I am going to step out of this thread now because I hate debating politics, welfare, religion, etc... , and I can understand that anecdotes aren't data. However, for a time in my childhood my brother was being paid by tax payer money to look after my grandpa. My brother either dropped out or put off college to do this, depending on how you want to spin the story. I am glad that I got out of doing this by being too young to be paid to change grandpa's diapers. This was the only choice for my mom when grandpa got too sick to work despite being intelligent and working hard all of his life. Before he and my brother went on the dole, he was living in a room with 2 roommates in the kind of nursing home that smelled like urine and people would occasionally die in the hallway. The YM-approved reason for this poor outcome was that he married a women who was mentally ill and chose to have kids with her. I can get why other people feel differently though, especially if their life experiences involve their families making sacrifices to support scammers.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 16, 2015 16:47:18 GMT -5
Thankfully SSI is more understanding as Bonny can attest to. If you come upon a windfall that puts you over the limits, you have a 6 month spend down period to get back within limits. HOWEVER if you create that overage and shield it, there is NO spend down time. You will be eligible again once within limits I haven't read the thread and can't take the time to do so right now but I did want to clarify this statement.
My father (age 79) got a small windfall earlier this year; a lump sum from a tiny pension he earned years ago. After a lot of research we found out that as long as he got rid of the money by the end of the month in which he received it he could keep his Medicaid standing. I am holding the money for him so he can get some over-due dental work done.
This kind of thing is state-specific so one should research their situation with an elder law or social worker in the state the person resides in.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 16, 2015 17:05:57 GMT -5
my brother was being paid by tax payer money to look after my grandpa. .... This was the only choice for my mom when grandpa got too sick to work despite being intelligent and working hard all of his life. Before he and my brother went on the dole, he was living in a room with 2 roommates in the kind of nursing home that smelled like urine and people would occasionally die in the hallway. IMHO gov't pd caregivers work hard for their paltry compensation and save us a boatload. ... their family members on SSI don't save thousands and thus lose eligibility. What the employee (ie: your brother) does with his income is none of my concern as he is WORKING.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 16, 2015 19:05:45 GMT -5
Thankfully SSI is more understanding as Bonny can attest to. If you come upon a windfall that puts you over the limits, you have a 6 month spend down period to get back within limits. HOWEVER if you create that overage and shield it, there is NO spend down time. You will be eligible again once within limits I haven't read the thread and can't take the time to do so right now but I did want to clarify this statement.
My father (age 79) got a small windfall earlier this year; a lump sum from a tiny pension he earned years ago. After a lot of research we found out that as long as he got rid of the money by the end of the month in which he received it he could keep his Medicaid standing. I am holding the money for him so he can get some over-due dental work done.
This kind of thing is state-specific so one should research their situation with an elder law or social worker in the state the person resides in.
So, in essence you are committing the same fraud as OP, but I bet you won't get the same response. But since I am pretty much the only one who thinks it's insane that a 79 yr old person can hold on to a few grand due to fear of loosing Medicaid.....well, I'll be curious to see everyone's reasoning.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 16, 2015 19:10:42 GMT -5
I grew up in ME and can attest to the fact that in the town I grew up in, there are more Work Comp and welfare/food stamp scammers than people who have jobs. Its absolutely ridiculous. They are perfectly capable of "cash" jobs but one that involves a W2? LOL. They also all have late model ATVs and sleds, huge 4x4 trucks to haul them and have lots of time to go riding and hunting. People have created their own little ecosystem with family members as "caregivers" (they get checks too as do the kids) while the taxpayers foot the bill for all the toys. Its just a different version of the "inner city" lifestyle. I am going to step out of this thread now because I hate debating politics, welfare, religion, etc... , and I can understand that anecdotes aren't data. However, for a time in my childhood my brother was being paid by tax payer money to look after my grandpa. My brother either dropped out or put off college to do this, depending on how you want to spin the story. I am glad that I got out of doing this by being too young to be paid to change grandpa's diapers. This was the only choice for my mom when grandpa got too sick to work despite being intelligent and working hard all of his life. Before he and my brother went on the dole, he was living in a room with 2 roommates in the kind of nursing home that smelled like urine and people would occasionally die in the hallway. The YM-approved reason for this poor outcome was that he married a women who was mentally ill and chose to have kids with her. I can get why other people feel differently though, especially if their life experiences involve their families making sacrifices to support scammers. After my grandfather died, my grandmother was allowed to have a caregiver to come over and help with certain things. The woman who showed up, from the same community was shocked that my mom actually expected her to do those duties. She never came back. We couldn't find anyone else who had the provider license, spoke the same language as my grandma and was actually willing to do the job! So, after awhile, my mom got the license and became the official provider. She was doing the work and much more anyway. But there are TONS of fraud going on with those type of situations. I seriously doubt that mine and Whoami's experiences are the only ones.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 16, 2015 19:36:42 GMT -5
It's not fraud to be paid to take care of a relative.
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Post by mojothehelpermonkey on Oct 16, 2015 19:43:32 GMT -5
I am going to step out of this thread now because I hate debating politics, welfare, religion, etc... , and I can understand that anecdotes aren't data. However, for a time in my childhood my brother was being paid by tax payer money to look after my grandpa. My brother either dropped out or put off college to do this, depending on how you want to spin the story. I am glad that I got out of doing this by being too young to be paid to change grandpa's diapers. This was the only choice for my mom when grandpa got too sick to work despite being intelligent and working hard all of his life. Before he and my brother went on the dole, he was living in a room with 2 roommates in the kind of nursing home that smelled like urine and people would occasionally die in the hallway. The YM-approved reason for this poor outcome was that he married a women who was mentally ill and chose to have kids with her. I can get why other people feel differently though, especially if their life experiences involve their families making sacrifices to support scammers. After my grandfather died, my grandmother was allowed to have a caregiver to come over and help with certain things. The woman who showed up, from the same community was shocked that my mom actually expected her to do those duties. She never came back. We couldn't find anyone else who had the provider license, spoke the same language as my grandma and was actually willing to do the job! So, after awhile, my mom got the license and became the official provider. She was doing the work and much more anyway. But there are TONS of fraud going on with those type of situations. I seriously doubt that mine and Whoami's experiences are the only ones. My mom got to know her fiance when she was working as a home health aide for his wealthy mother who had dementia. When his sister who was in charge of her mom's money passed away, my mom's fiance had to pay $10K a month out of his own pocket to make sure his mom was well cared for. His greedy brothers wouldn't come out and say it, but it seemed like they wanted her to go in home so they would get more of an inheritance. My mom's fiance had ongoing problems with some of the home health aides being too lazy to provide the minimum amount of care because they thought they should be paid above minimum wage to sleep while the person they are being paid to look after needs to use the bathroom. It's a jungle out there. That's the same reason my mom quit her nursing home job. It almost seems like it would make more sense to make it easier for people to take care of their own instead of depending on the kindness or worse greediness of strangers, but I don't know how to design a cheap government program for that. No good solutions, too complicated for Friday night.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 16, 2015 20:27:09 GMT -5
After my grandfather died, my grandmother was allowed to have a caregiver to come over and help with certain things. The woman who showed up, from the same community was shocked that my mom actually expected her to do those duties. She never came back. We couldn't find anyone else who had the provider license, spoke the same language as my grandma and was actually willing to do the job! So, after awhile, my mom got the license and became the official provider. She was doing the work and much more anyway. But there are TONS of fraud going on with those type of situations. I seriously doubt that mine and Whoami's experiences are the only ones. My mom got to know her fiance when she was working as a home health aide for his wealthy mother who had dementia. When his sister who was in charge of her mom's money passed away, my mom's fiance had to pay $10K a month out of his own pocket to make sure his mom was well cared for. His greedy brothers wouldn't come out and say it, but it seemed like they wanted her to go in home so they would get more of an inheritance. My mom's fiance had ongoing problems with some of the home health aides being too lazy to provide the minimum amount of care because they thought they should be paid above minimum wage to sleep while the person they are being paid to look after needs to use the bathroom. It's a jungle out there. That's the same reason my mom quit her nursing home job. It almost seems like it would make more sense to make it easier for people to take care of their own instead of depending on the kindness or worse greediness of strangers, but I don't know how to design a cheap government program for that. No good solutions, too complicated for Friday night. in California we pay them as home health workers and give them health insurance (at least health insurance in CoCoCounty)
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Post by mojothehelpermonkey on Oct 16, 2015 20:29:29 GMT -5
I live in CA and am thinking about moving back to where my mom lives so I can hope to someday own a home.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Oct 16, 2015 20:39:03 GMT -5
My cousin was born with hemophilia and now is about 55 with hepititis C, he can't always walk and uses two canes when he does. He has SSI and Medicaid and thanks to his parents a mobile home on their farm and a car. He can't have over $2K or he loses Medicaid. He would like to have a better life, emergency fund, help his step sons but he isn't allowed to own things. Grandma gave him her house but he declined the offer since it would lose him the SSI and Medicaid. Now his dad is dead and mom is 89. When his mom dies he will be homeless, she wanted to leave him 1/3 of the farm but he can't accept it. The farm isn't allowed more than one dwelling except he got an exception for being on his parents farm once orphaned his mobile needs to be moved. It would be nice if they allowed people to give him inheritances without losing benefits but it is fraud so he will not do it. Maybe he can now with ACA get insurance before he couldn't have and his medical expenses are really high for things like airlift to nearest city, he couldn't afford and would have died without Medicaid. His wife is on SSI too and her sons have left home so with two SSI checks maybe they can find a place to live. His mom wanted his brothers to take the farm and save him 1/3 of the money from selling in their names but it is fraud and they refused. No way for the handicapped to ever escape poverty with the 2K law, it would be nice if it was like SSDI so if you can't work you can still save, invest or inherit without losing it.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 16, 2015 21:54:37 GMT -5
Please recheck this. It used to be that you could own the house you live in (even mortgage free and 1 car) without losing eligibility. You just can't have over 2k in liquid assets (3k I'd married). Plus I don't think you lose Medicare just Medicaid. Even if you're Tloonya's dad
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Oct 17, 2015 1:55:48 GMT -5
He owns his house and car can't own grandma's house or 1/3 of a farm that will be sold so he would have to get it sold and use the money to buy a new home and might lose Medicaid. Not worth the risk even as a baby his medicine was over 10K a year, his dad had to give up his business and take a job with better insurance. Hard to get ahead when they won't let you do normal things without risking your insurance coverage.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 17, 2015 8:46:18 GMT -5
I haven't read the thread and can't take the time to do so right now but I did want to clarify this statement.
My father (age 79) got a small windfall earlier this year; a lump sum from a tiny pension he earned years ago. After a lot of research we found out that as long as he got rid of the money by the end of the month in which he received it he could keep his Medicaid standing. I am holding the money for him so he can get some over-due dental work done.
This kind of thing is state-specific so one should research their situation with an elder law or social worker in the state the person resides in.
So, in essence you are committing the same fraud as OP, but I bet you won't get the same response. But since I am pretty much the only one who thinks it's insane that a 79 yr old person can hold on to a few grand due to fear of loosing Medicaid.....well, I'll be curious to see everyone's reasoning. That's pretty harsh Lena. I'm not committing fraud. If you read my other posts on the subject you would understand that the $17k windfall was nearly 15 years of $100 mthly pension payments that was paid in a lump sum. Had they been paid in a timely fashion the lump sum never would have been an issue. We spent months researching and confirming with the county social program. We are following the rules.
The director of CA's Medicaid program allows the windfall dispersal because they don't want elderly Medicaid patients going off the program for months because they are ineligible for care and coming back sicker. I think it's a wise longer term outlook.
The $17k is not being saved as an inheritance for me. Medicaid pays very little for dental care beyond an exam and filling cavities. My father will wind up spending all of this money on medical/dental care beyond what Medicaid covers.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 17, 2015 9:06:20 GMT -5
Bonny - if you read my posts on this subject, then you would know that I wasn't being harsh, just pointing out the hypocrisy of the system. The guy in OP saved from the money HE was receiving. And yet, if he showed that in the bank, it would have been taken away. Just like $17K is your father's money, that $25K is this guy's money. I think it is irrelevant what the money is being used for. Dental care or graduation gift - it doesn't matter. The idea that the person is not allowed to save seems very ludicrous to me. It is also hypocritical to condemn people for staying in poverty and living off taxpayers and at the same time not allowing them to save. ETA: and yes, in essence it is fraud bc he didn't spent the money in the allowed period of time. If the system wasn't so convoluted, your father would have been allowed to keep this money in his name.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 17, 2015 9:29:37 GMT -5
Bonny - if you read my posts on this subject, then you would know that I wasn't being harsh, just pointing out the hypocrisy of the system. The guy in OP saved from the money HE was receiving. And yet, if he showed that in the bank, it would have been taken away. Just like $17K is your father's money, that $25K is this guy's money. I think it is irrelevant what the money is being used for. Dental care or graduation gift - it doesn't matter. The idea that the person is not allowed to save seems very ludicrous to me. It is also hypocritical to condemn people for staying in poverty and living off taxpayers and at the same time not allowing them to save. ETA: and yes, in essence it is fraud bc he didn't spent the money in the allowed period of time. If the system wasn't so convoluted, your father would have been allowed to keep this money in his name. Lena,
You accused me of committing fraud. That is both harsh and untrue.
Every social program has its rules. Had my parents managed their money in a reasonable fashion Dad would be on Medicare, not Medicaid, have savings and not living in poverty. I was not in control of their finances and take no responsibility for either of their situations (you may recall that my mother's estate was upside down by $400k when she died in 2008).
Medicaid is expensive and I understand why there are rules.
What is crazy to me is that low income people under 65 can get Medicaid but there are no asset rules. To me that encourages people to really work the system.
That said, given a choice I'd rather spend my own money and get better service than to deal with Medicaid. Those folks have to wait longer for services, have fewer services and will find it a real challenge to find a good assisted care facility. I'm grateful that it doesn't appear that I will be in that situation but my father is likely to be.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Oct 17, 2015 10:04:16 GMT -5
I've never met a doctor or dentist that takes Medicaid. Even the walk in clinics don't. Hence, the ER.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 17, 2015 10:06:21 GMT -5
If this is not fraud, why is your father not holding money in his own name?
You say you understand why there are rules, but you are not following those rules or am I missing something?
ETA: Am I understanding you correctly - you think people under 65 should be means tested, but not over 65?
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 17, 2015 10:07:52 GMT -5
I've never met a doctor or dentist that takes Medicaid. Even the walk in clinics don't. Hence, the ER. According to Ombud - people in CA get all their bills covered, including dental. It has not been my experience, but I am not in CA.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 17, 2015 10:28:03 GMT -5
I've never met a doctor or dentist that takes Medicaid. Even the walk in clinics don't. Hence, the ER. According to Ombud - people in CA get all their bills covered, including dental. It has not been my experience, but I am not in CA. Not all their bills -just medical, dental, $24 transportation cards for $9 or $1 bus rides. Government doesn't fix their cars and free low flow toilets thru the utility company is limited to those under $75 And in 37 act counties, it's signed over to an HMO -- Kaiser, Contra Costa Health Plan, Alameda Alliance, California Dental -- so that person in the chair next to you could be Medi-Cal, employer paid, or private paid health insurance with the same benefits. You'll never know and that's how it should be ER's are overcrowded with undocumented who aren't eligible for anything
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 17, 2015 10:30:12 GMT -5
My cousin was born with hemophilia and now is about 55 with hepititis C, he can't always walk and uses two canes when he does. He has SSI and Medicaid and thanks to his parents a mobile home on their farm and a car. He can't have over $2K or he loses Medicaid. He would like to have a better life, emergency fund, help his step sons but he isn't allowed to own things. Grandma gave him her house but he declined the offer since it would lose him the SSI and Medicaid. Now his dad is dead and mom is 89. When his mom dies he will be homeless, she wanted to leave him 1/3 of the farm but he can't accept it. The farm isn't allowed more than one dwelling except he got an exception for being on his parents farm once orphaned his mobile needs to be moved. It would be nice if they allowed people to give him inheritances without losing benefits but it is fraud so he will not do it. Maybe he can now with ACA get insurance before he couldn't have and his medical expenses are really high for things like airlift to nearest city, he couldn't afford and would have died without Medicaid. His wife is on SSI too and her sons have left home so with two SSI checks maybe they can find a place to live. His mom wanted his brothers to take the farm and save him 1/3 of the money from selling in their names but it is fraud and they refused. No way for the handicapped to ever escape poverty with the 2K law, it would be nice if it was like SSDI so if you can't work you can still save, invest or inherit without losing it. He needs to see an elder law attorney. One potential option is that he could be a beneficiary of a life estate which wouldn't affect his 2k asset limit.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 17, 2015 10:36:12 GMT -5
According to Ombud - people in CA get all their bills covered, including dental. It has not been my experience, but I am not in CA. And in 37 act counties, it's signed over to an HMO -- Kaiser, Contra Costa Health Plan, Alameda Alliance, California Dental -- so that person in the chair next to you could be Medi-Cal, employer paid, or private paid health insurance with the same benefits. You'll never know and that's how it should be I did a lot of research on dental plans for my Dad. One of the options for reducing monthly income is to pay for health or dental insurance.
"Dental insurance" in CA is nothing more than a negotiated price schedule for dental services. I couldn't find anything better than what he had through Kaiser's Medicaid dental benefits. You can research the benefits on-line. A lot is not covered. At the time he was looking at dental implants which are expensive and not covered. With the prep work required, he could easily spend the entire "windfall" and still need to come out of pocket.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 17, 2015 10:43:24 GMT -5
Do you have access to Delta Dental? GS1 BF (long story -- aged out of system but Junior in college) just went thru a boatload of services on it. Medi-Cal covered and on it as SF is a 37 act county. Not sure how it works in the few counties that aren't 37 act
Implants aren't covered on my insurance either and I pay for it. But nothing else except gas @ $75 bc I'm a wimp when it comes to root canals. Crowns / caps / braces / routine at $0. His root canal + crown = $0 but no gas.
Oh had his wisdom teeth out + vicodin script = $0
Love Delta Dental
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 17, 2015 10:47:32 GMT -5
If this is not fraud, why is your father not holding money in his own name? You say you understand why there are rules, but you are not following those rules or am I missing something? ETA: Am I understanding you correctly - you think people under 65 should be means tested, but not over 65? I'm going to give this one more try but I think it's pointless.
I'm following the rules. Dad HAD to give the money away in the same month he received or he would have lost his Medicaid eligibility. This was directed by both the elder law consultant and the County social worker.
Under the rules I can "gift" my father additional medical or dental services. This is not fraud.
No you misunderstood. I think if you're on Medicaid you should have the same set of rules regardless of age. This is a safety net program that is supposed to keep poor people from dying on the streets.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Oct 17, 2015 10:53:54 GMT -5
Had my teeth cleaned the other day. I got into a discussion about going on Medicare this coming May. I asked her what was the cost of teeth cleaning without any dental insurance. She quoted me a price which was acceptable even without insurance (for me).
In my city we have a college of dentistry. We also have a community college which trains hygienists where she was a past teacher/instructor. She recommended going to either for dental work if money is a problem, especially the community college for hygienists. The hygienists-in-training's work is monitored by the teachers. It may take a bit longer for the cleaning but you end up with a good cleaning.
The college of dentistry does more complex dental work for much lower prices too.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Oct 17, 2015 11:30:25 GMT -5
Had my teeth cleaned the other day. I got into a discussion about going on Medicare this coming May. I asked her what was the cost of teeth cleaning without any dental insurance. She quoted me a price which was acceptable even without insurance (for me). In my city we have a college of dentistry. We also have a community college which trains hygienists where she was a past teacher/instructor. She recommended going to either for dental work if money is a problem, especially the community college for hygienists. The hygienists-in-training's work is monitored by the teachers. It may take a bit longer for the cleaning but you end up with a good cleaning. The college of dentistry does more complex dental work for much lower prices too. My father lives in a rural part of NE San Diego County. COLA is a little cheaper there. I researched the dental school/clinic option and the closest one is 50+ miles away or about 3+ hours RT now (taught by my alma mater) but is full. The closest open one is in Los Angles which would be a 6 hour RT. I don't want either my father or his 80 girlfriend driving to the clinic. Dad has cataracts and the girlfriend is afraid to drive on the freeway. It's all they can do to make it to the closest Kaiser clinic which is about 15 miles away.
I don't think either of them will be able to stay at her house for a whole lot longer without some home health care. There is a senior bus which I think they will start taking. I'm grateful for the help but it will mean that a Dr's appt. is going to be an all day affair.
Moving in with me isn't an option and moving closer to me is cost prohibitive. DH and I bought a house 10 years ago about 30 miles away from Dad and my mom thinking I would spend an extended time taking care of them. We assumed my MIL would be gone by then given her numerous cancers. Low and behold MIL is alive and kicking and it was my mother who was the youngest (and we thought the healthiest) who passed away eight years ago.
That old saying about life happening while you are making other plans is so true!
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whoisjohngalt
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Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 17, 2015 11:50:40 GMT -5
If this is not fraud, why is your father not holding money in his own name? You say you understand why there are rules, but you are not following those rules or am I missing something? ETA: Am I understanding you correctly - you think people under 65 should be means tested, but not over 65? I'm going to give this one more try but I think it's pointless.
I'm following the rules. Dad HAD to give the money away in the same month he received or he would have lost his Medicaid eligibility. This was directed by both the elder law consultant and the County social worker.
Under the rules I can "gift" my father additional medical or dental services. This is not fraud.
No you misunderstood. I think if you're on Medicaid you should have the same set of rules regardless of age. This is a safety net program that is supposed to keep poor people from dying on the streets.
Well, I'll try it one more time, but I too think it's pointless. It is fraud bc he really didn't give his money away. He didn't spent it. He didn't use it on himself or anyone else in the allowed period of time. He simply moved it under the mattress/gifted/gave it to you, but it is still considered his, according to you. The law says "you can't have the money". It doesn't say "you can give it someone for x amount of time until you need it". My stance is that there shouldn't be such law in the first place bc it makes it very hard for people to save even a bit for such necessaries as car repairs, broken toilets and dental bills. You seem to think that the law is just fine, but yet, you really found a nice way around it.
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Ombud
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 14, 2013 23:21:04 GMT -5
Posts: 7,600
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Post by Ombud on Oct 17, 2015 11:52:42 GMT -5
There's a huge difference between these two situations. Bonny's Dad reported the assets to the same department tloonya is trying to shield assets from and you don't see a difference, whoisjohngalt? Really?
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whoisjohngalt
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 17, 2015 11:58:20 GMT -5
There's a huge difference between these two situations. Bonny's Dad reported the assets to the same department tloonya is trying to shield assets from and you don't see a difference, whoisjohngalt? Really? Yes, really. Bonny's dad IS shielding the assets. He still has those $17K, he has full access to them. But he makes it seem like he doesn't by putting it in bonny's name. The OP guy actually gave up the assets for real. He has no more access to them. The only "wrong" thing he did, is didn't spent it in the allowed time. Bonny's dad didn't spent it in the allowed time either. In both cases the money belonged to the individuals. They were given to them through either pension or govt assistance.
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Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,429
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Post by Tennesseer on Oct 17, 2015 12:21:42 GMT -5
Had my teeth cleaned the other day. I got into a discussion about going on Medicare this coming May. I asked her what was the cost of teeth cleaning without any dental insurance. She quoted me a price which was acceptable even without insurance (for me). In my city we have a college of dentistry. We also have a community college which trains hygienists where she was a past teacher/instructor. She recommended going to either for dental work if money is a problem, especially the community college for hygienists. The hygienists-in-training's work is monitored by the teachers. It may take a bit longer for the cleaning but you end up with a good cleaning. The college of dentistry does more complex dental work for much lower prices too. My father lives in a rural part of NE San Diego County. COLA is a little cheaper there. I researched the dental school/clinic option and the closest one is 50+ miles away or about 3+ hours RT now (taught by my alma mater) but is full. The closest open one is in Los Angles which would be a 6 hour RT. I don't want either my father or his 80 girlfriend driving to the clinic. Dad has cataracts and the girlfriend is afraid to drive on the freeway. It's all they can do to make it to the closest Kaiser clinic which is about 15 miles away.
I don't think either of them will be able to stay at her house for a whole lot longer without some home health care. There is a senior bus which I think they will start taking. I'm grateful for the help but it will mean that a Dr's appt. is going to be an all day affair.
Moving in with me isn't an option and moving closer to me is cost prohibitive. DH and I bought a house 10 years ago about 30 miles away from Dad and my mom thinking I would spend an extended time taking care of them. We assumed my MIL would be gone by then given her numerous cancers. Low and behold MIL is alive and kicking and it was my mother who was the youngest (and we thought the healthiest) who passed away eight years ago.
That old saying about life happening while you are making other plans is so true!
Not everyone can do what I suggested, Bonnie. I know that. It was only a suggestion for those who might live close enough to dental schools and who can utilize them.
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