Pennsylvania Medicaid and Elder Law Attorney

Medicaid Planning

How are Income Payments to the Nursing Home Calculated for Medicaid Long-Term Care Benefits?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

It is important to make sure that a Medicaid applicant’s income is properly calculated and paid to the nursing home. Sometimes a Medicaid application is filed and remains pending for …

Are You Responsible for Your Parent’s Nursing Home Bill in Pennsylvania? Understanding the Filial Support Law

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

Disclaimer: This article has been posted for general information purposes only.  You should not act upon the information in this article without first retaining legal counsel.   By Robert C. Gerhard, III, …

Why Closing Inactive and Unnecessary Accounts Matters in Medicaid Planning

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

By Robert C. Gerhard, III, Certified Elder Law Attorney When preparing for long-term care and applying for Medicaid in Pennsylvania, one of the most overlooked but critical steps is closing inactive, …

Medicaid 5-Year Look-Back Penalty: Can You Avoid It?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

When you apply for Medicaid, the agency will launch a 5-year look-back, in which they review your finances for the 60 months preceding your application date. This process is in …

Pennsylvania’s Filial Support Law: Children Can Be Held Responsible for Parent’s Unpaid Nursing Home Bill?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

Pennsylvania appellate case law has upheld lower court decisions that imposed liability on children for their parents’ unpaid nursing home bills under Pennsylvania’s filial responsibility law (also called “filial support …

Medicaid Application Pending, 7 Things You Need to Know

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

So your application for Medicaid long-term care benefits is “pending” with the local County Assistance Office. Here are 7 things you need to know: You or your attorney should stay …

Top 3 Reasons Nursing Home Medicaid Benefits are Denied

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

There are many reasons why an application for Medicaid long-term care benefits can be denied. A denial of Medicaid benefits needs to be taken seriously and appealed in a timely …

Medicaid Application Process, 5-Year Look-back 5 Years of Records for Small and Inactive Accounts

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

It can make sense to close small and inactive bank accounts to make the Medicaid application process easier if you may need to apply for long-term care benefits in the …

What Assets Are Exempt From Medicaid Estate Recovery Rights?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

When a Medicaid beneficiary passes away, their estate may be obligated to pay back outstanding debts, potentially including Medicaid long-term care benefits. However, some assets are exempt from Medicaid estate …