MASSHEALTH SPOUSE ASSETS INCREASE RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1, 2006

As reported last month, MassHealth has increased the amount of assets the community-residing spouse of a nursing home resident may retain. That spouse may now retain up to $99,540 in countable family assets (under old rules she could only keep half of assets). At press time for July/August newsletter it was unclear if this would be retroactive; this change is effective back to July 1st 2006.

Many affected elders may be unaware and spending-down assets they are entitled to keep and will be impossible to recover. Please be alert to such cases and refer them to an elder law attorney.

See this bulletin for more info: www.compartners.org/pdf/news/8-31-06_spouse.pdf

-Adapted from “changes in spend-down rules for spouses of nursing home residents” e-mail from Kim Simonian, 8/31/06

9/06