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Delzer, Coulter & Bell, P.A. | Attorneys At Law
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Wayne R. Coulter and Rebecca C. Bell

Experienced Estate Planning And Elder Law Solutions

For Best Results With Medicaid Planning, Contact An Attorney As Early As Possible

Delzer, Coulter & Bell, P.A., helps you understand why Medicaid can be critical in paying for the costs of your long-term care. Medicare and Medicare HMOs have limited long-term care benefits, with Medicare covering no more than 100 days of a nursing home stay. Without Medicaid, nursing home bills can quickly deplete your savings.

Experienced Pasco County elder law attorney Rebecca C. Bell is available to help you find effective ways to preserve your assets and obtain eligibility for Medicaid, as well as other related elder law matters.

Please click here to print the Medicaid information sheet. Fill it out to the best of your ability. Upon receipt of the information sheet, Rebecca C. Bell will contact you and inform you of the charge to develop an asset protection plan for you or your family member and schedule an appointment for an office conference or telephone conference. Her charge will vary depending on the complexity of the applicant’s affairs and the information you provide on the information sheet. Accordingly, it is important that you provide her with complete and accurate information on your or your family member’s affairs.

When To Apply For Medicaid Benefits

You should seek Medicaid benefits if you or your loved one suffers from a chronic illness or injury requiring long-term health care. Medicaid has programs for nursing home residents, assisted living facility residents and those requiring in-home care.

Attorney Bell evaluates your nursing home Medicaid eligibility in Florida, assists in implementing a plan to meet eligibility requirements, files the Medicaid application and represents you through the approval process with the Florida Department of Children and Families, including any appeals.

Requirements For Medicaid Qualification

To be eligible for Medicaid in 2026, the Florida Department of Children and Families requires that:

  • Your countable assets must be less than $2,000 at least one day of each month.
  • Your monthly gross income must not exceed $2,982 or establish and fund a qualified income-only trust.
  • You must meet a level of care requirement.
  • If you have a spouse at home, their countable assets must not exceed $162,660.

Rebecca C. Bell will be your Port Richey Medicaid planning attorney and assist you in meeting the requirements above.

How Assets Are Protected To Enable Medicaid Qualification

Certain assets, such as the applicant’s home, are exempt assets. One asset protection planning approach is to convert nonexempt assets into exempt assets. Although greatly limited by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, annuities, asset divestiture or asset transfers are sometimes an option. Converting countable assets into income sources, such as the purchase of rental property, is another approach.

Creating a qualified income trust can be helpful, as this is an option for applicants who have income exceeding the maximum monthly amount. Attorney Bell will guide you in meeting its requirements to maintain your Medicaid eligibility. Additional planning is available if the applicant has a spouse, and attorney Bell has a background in preserving countable assets for spouses.

Using the Florida Medicaid asset protection methods, such as those mentioned above, attorney Bell can assist with asset preservation while meeting Medicaid eligibility requirements. Her assistance is geared towards obtaining benefits sooner than waiting for assets to be depleted by paying long-term care costs without any financial assistance.

About Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits Claims

If you or your spouse served in the military for at least 90 days, with at least one day during a war period, and did not have a dishonorable discharge, you may be eligible for financial assistance from Veterans Affairs (VA).

Only an attorney or agent accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may assist in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits. At the law firm of Delzer, Coulter & Bell, P.A., attorney Rebecca C. Bell is accredited by the VA. Her experience as a Port Richey Medicaid Planning attorney can help you obtain the maximum veterans pension benefits to financially assist with your long-term care costs.

Plan Now For Long-Term Care And Medicaid Benefits With The Guidance Of A Knowledgeable Attorney

As a Florida Bar board-certified elder law attorney with a Master of Laws in elder law, Rebecca C. Bell focuses on Medicaid planning and stays current on the frequent changes in the law. For an evaluation of your Medicaid options or those of a family member, please reach out to Delzer, Coulter & Bell, P.A., online or call 727-361-2894.