Everyone in Spokane County needs to have a long-term care plan in place, but especially veterans with long-term care benefits. Veterans are in a unique situation where they may qualify for VA aid and attendance in Spokane in combination with normal VA and Medicaid benefits. When this is the case, you may need to update your long-term care plan to reflect this so that you are better prepared for the future.
VA Long-Term Care Benefits Overview
When doing your research on veteran’s long-term care benefits, the main thing to keep in mind is that every veterans situation is unique. Spokane County veteran resources vary for each individual, potentially providing different benefits or more extensive benefits. That is why you need to do research into what the VA has provided for you specifically.
However, most, if not all, sick or disabled veterans have access to long-term care services provided by the VA. These VA long-term care planning resources include things like:
- 24/7 nursing and medical care
- Pain management
- Physical therapy
- Help with daily tasks
- Support for caregivers
These VA benefits may also include different care settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living centers, private homes, and adult day health centers. Additionally, you may be able to get care from the comfort of your home.
To get a better understanding of what benefits you have and how you can put them to good use, you should contact an elder law attorney for veterans. An attorney can help you navigate Washington state VA aid eligibility, ensuring your long-term care plan includes all of the necessary details.
VA Aid & Attendance
In addition to the standard VA long-term care benefits you may qualify for, you should also be aware of VA aid and attendance. This is a type of VA benefit that may provide you with additional financial resources on a monthly basis in combination with any other VA benefits you have.
To qualify for VA aid and attendance, you must receive a VA pension and meet at least one of these other requirements:
- Have limited eyesight.
- Require assistance with daily activities.
- Live in a nursing home due to diminished mental or physical abilities as a result of limited eyesight or a disability.
- Are bedbound or mostly bedbound due to illness or disability.
Coordinating VA and Medicaid Benefits
A very common misconception about VA benefits and estate planning is that you can’t use VA benefits and Medicaid in combination. Thankfully, this is not true, as having VA benefits will not disqualify you from other types of health insurance coverage.
In fact, many veterans take advantage of both types of benefits, as this helps them to get better healthcare. But this can make long-term care planning a bit more difficult since you need to coordinate your benefits to avoid running into issues later on.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you have access to both types of benefits:
- Organization: You need to have a thorough understanding of your VA and Medicaid benefits and make sure your providers are coordinating. Staying organized will help you avoid duplicate services and other types of problems.
- Eligibility: If you apply for Medicaid, this may affect your VA benefits in certain circumstances, especially if you have a large income or significant assets.
- Coverage gaps: One reason why many veterans use their VA benefits with Medicaid is because it can help fill in coverage gaps. For example, you can use Medicaid to cover specific services that aren’t usually included in VA benefits, such as dental or vision care.
- Long-term care: Depending on your VA benefits, you may not have as much long-term care as you need. This is where Medicaid and other types of VA benefits can help, such as VA aid and attendance.
Strategies for Veteran Families
When it comes to long-term care planning for veterans, there are specific strategies you should use to get the best results. This will allow you to take full advantage of all of the benefits you are entitled to so that you can better prepare for the future and alleviate the burden on your family.
Especially for veterans who want to also qualify for Medicaid benefits, they may need to use certain asset protection strategies. Some of the most common ways of shielding assets are with revocable living trusts, spousal trusts, or irrevocable trusts. You should also make sure you have a power of attorney or advance directive in place..
To avoid running into issues or complications with your long-term care plan, you need to take the additional step of working with a VA-accredited elder law attorney. Navigating Medicaid and VA benefits in Washington can be very complex, and an attorney will have the experience necessary to ensure everything goes smoothly.
An experienced elder law attorney can also help you with every step of the long-term care planning process. This includes ensuring your last wishes are clear, your legal documentation is in place, you are following Washington law, and your benefits have been coordinated.
Get in Touch With a Long-Term Care Planning Attorney Today
If you need to know more about Medicaid planning for veterans, contact an elder law attorney for veterans in Spokane County at Legacy Law Group. Contact us today at 509-315-8087 to speak with one of our attorneys to get the process started.
FAQ
Can veterans qualify for both VA Aid and Attendance and Medicaid?
Yes, many veterans qualify for VA aid and attendance as well as Medicaid benefits. However, you must make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements for both. Also, you will need to carefully coordinate your benefits so that they don’t overlap.
What is Aid & Attendance?
VA aid and attendance is an additional VA benefit that provides monthly payments that can be used in combination with your VA pension. It is most often used by veterans who need help covering the cost of assisted-living, nursing home, or in-home care.
Does VA assistance count against Medicaid eligibility?
Not usually. This is because VA benefits are not treated as an income when Medicaid is determining eligibility. However, it is still important to plan carefully and work with an attorney to ensure you don’t run into issues when applying for Medicaid benefits.
