The following exhibit contains revised language to be given to SSI applicants and recipients in all States based on the new Medicaid rules on transfer of assets.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEDICAID

If you have Medicaid, or you are filing for Medicaid, the following information about assets is important to you.

WHAT ARE ASSETS FOR MEDICAID?

Your State looks at all your assets when it decides if you can get Medicaid. Your assets can include:

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  money you or your spouse get from wages or self-employment,

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  any other money you or your spouse get, such as money from Social Security or friends or relatives,

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  any free food, clothing or shelter you or your spouse get,

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  things you or your spouse own, like bank accounts or real estate,

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  money or property you, your spouse or someone acting for you placed in a trust, and

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  any money or property which you and your spouse have a right to get but don't get because of something:

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    - you did, or

    - your spouse did, or

    - someone else did who was acting for you or at your request.

Medicaid may count some things as assets that we do not count for SSI. For example, Medicaid may count things you give away or sell for less than they are worth; these do not count for SSI.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE AWAY OR SELL AN ASSET?

Medicaid may not pay for certain health care for you for a period of time if you, your spouse, or someone else take an asset of yours and give it away or sell it for less than what it is worth. Medicaid also may not pay for certain health care if your assets are used to set up a trust that makes payments to someone else or cannot make payments to you or for your benefit.

This rule usually applies to people in nursing homes and people in other places such as hospitals that have nursing services like those in nursing homes. This rule can also apply to people who:

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  get care at home or in their community under special programs called waivers, or

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  will soon need these services.

At times this rule also applies to people who are getting other kinds of services, such as home health care, help with activities of daily living, or other forms of long-term care.

REPORTING TO YOUR STATE MEDICAID AGENCY

Your State Medicaid agency uses these rules about assets to decide if you can get Medicaid. SSA will give your State Medicaid agency information SSA has about any assets you may have given away. You also must tell your State Medicaid agency any time you give away or sell an asset or set up a trust.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICAID

If you have any questions about Medicaid, including how your assets can affect coverage, please contact the State or local welfare, public health, or social services agency that handles Medicaid. They can answer your questions about how your assets affect your Medicaid.