And find out that... You Do Not Have To Spend All Your Money Paying For Nursing Home Cost     Senior Information Services of America (SIS) represents many law firms involving long term planning issues all across Texas.  SIS is an Estate Preservation Firm who has been specializing in Medicaid Eligibility Planning for over 20 years.  Specifically we do this type of planning for people currently in nursing facilities or who are close to entering a nursing facility and are concerned about the rapid depletion of their  assets while paying for their cost of care.     Contained within Medicaid guidelines are certain defined strategies that could possibly allow people facing this dilemma, the opportunity to preserve some or all of their  assets while at the same time qualifying for Medicaid benefits. Over the last twenty years, SIS  has helped thousands of  families in Texas solve this problem.  If you know the rules and know how to apply them, you will find that in most cases you are not required to spend all of your life savings, but in fact can preserve a large part of your resources.     SIS is an organization that helps families protect assets and income while qualifying for assistance to cover cost for nursing home care. SIS has specialized in this area of asset protection since 1989 with nine offices across Texas.  We are members of the Texas Health Care Association , are Certified Continuing Education Providers for Licensed Social Workers and an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau.      We have successfully helped thousands of families with asset protection problems that they thought were hopeless.  SIS offers a free financial assessment to determine what assets are at risk, what can be done to protect them and what can be done to qualify for benefits.

Medicaid- Myths & Facts "I will automatically lose my home if I require Medicaid assistance ." FACT:     Recent changes (March 1, 2005) in the law have made Estate Recovery a reality in Texas.  Under this program, the state may file a claim against the estate of a deceased Medicaid  recipient, age 55 and older, who applied for certain long-term care services on or after March 1, 2005.  Because of this it is very important to seek professional advice in order to protect this asset.  In most every state, your homestead is treated as an exempt asset as a married couple meaning it s not considered, in determining resource eligibility.   In the State of Texas, your home (including the land on which it sets) is exempt, regardless of size or value.  For single applicants, the unoccupied home still can be treated as an exempt resource if the applicant  indicates an intent to return home and the appropriate action is taken to preserve the home.  However Estate Recovery is still an issue and must be addressed.  Some states require a medical certification to accompany this statement as well.     Because of its exempt status, it usually is not  wise to sell or give away such property.  The gift of exempt assets is still considered an uncompensated transfer resulting in penalty or waiting periods before a person could qualify. My income is too high to qualify FACT:     The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 93) brought about many changes in the eligibility guidelines developed by the Health Care Finance Administration.  One of those changes applies to individuals whose monthly income exceeds the state maximum.     This change made it possible for individuals with income over the limit to qualify for Medicaid benefits through the use of a Miller Trust.  It is important to understand that a Miller Trust solves only the income problem and has nothing whatsoever to do with excess assets and resources. "Medicaid is like Welfare, isn t it? FACT:     Medicaid was created by Title XIX of the Social Security Act and is the healthcare safety net for all Senior Americans. Almost three-quarters of the people receiving long- term care in nursing facilities in the State of Texas are Medicaid recipients.     Some began their stay as Medicaid residents, but many paid for their own care until every penny they had saved was gone (usually spending far more money than necessary) then qualified for benefits.     There has recently been a great deal of proposed legislation regarding overhauling our nation s healthcare system. The retooling of Medicare and Medicaid with an emphasis on the purchase of long-term care insurance does have its merits. But it also fails to address the dilemma of Senior Citizens who either cannot afford it or who don t medically qualify for it.  For those families and individuals, Medicaid is the only choice for financial assistance during a long-term care or nursing facility stay. What Others Are Saying ...I spoke with our attorney regarding the situation and he recommended we talk to Larry Pearce with Senior Information Services. He was always available whenever we needed additional advice. Larry was there and he helped us get them on Medicaid and saved a lot of their assets.  I have and will continue to recommend Larry Pearce to anyone who is facing the situation of putting a loved one in a nursing home.  His vast knowledge of the system was very helpful. -Nita Buirge ...I wanted to write you a note and thank you for the great news you gave me this morning on the state approving my mother for healthcare benefits. There will come a time when a friend will need help as I did and I will not hesitate to let them know who I would recommend. Again you were a Godsend when I found out about you and I cannot thank you enough. -Don Lynnch