Follow
Share

I got my mom's car reappraised by the dealership. Is it ok to sell it to a private buyer when my mom's on long-term nursing home Medicaid? Medicaid never said who I could sell it to, they just said I could sell it. I am from Ohio.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
I don't think it should be a problem so long as the money from the sale goes toward your mom's care or is spent for her benefit. When we applied for Medicaid for my brother in law we had to list out any assets sold in the last 5 years, the amount, and what was done with the money. There was no question asked about who bought the asset. We had private sales of his car and a boat and went through a realtor to sell his house. We indicated on the application paper work that the money had been deposited in his checking account and used to pay for his NH care (He was private pay at the time, until all his assets were disposed of.) If your mom is already on Medicaid and the amount from the sale of the car is substantial enough to put your mom over your state's LTC Medicaid asset limit, I'd contact a caseworker (in writing) to let them know and ask how they want it handled. You can often use amounts such as this to buy things to benefit the person on Medicaid, e.g., a better wheelchair, hearing aids or glasses not covered by Medicaid, etc. It's possible you might be able to use it for a prepaid funeral plan, but that might have had to be done before the person first went on Medicaid--best to check your state's regulations about that. Generally the Medicaid recertification is done once a year, which is when you have to indicate the assets, but it's a good idea to let them know right away if your mom's assets change appreciably.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Newbiewife is correct. Much better to contact your Medicaid office as each state administers Medicaid slightly differently.
Good Luck
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Thank you Medicade appraised my moms car at 1500 but we took it back to the dealership she bought it from and they reappraised it for 300 and my Medicade case worker said that was ok just turn in the receipt so they can take it off the books. It’s not a lot so we will be ok under the 2 thousand dollar limit. And if need be we can do a spend down before the months over but after the nursing home gets there cut we have no problem at all keeping it below the amount. We are working on cleaning the house up to sell. I know we have to use that as nursing home private pay then it will go back to Medicade after that moneys gone. Thanks for your help
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Sounds Like you have an actual in-your-hands written document that is an appraisal, right? And appraisal is on dealership letterhead with the specifics on the vehicle? So it’s accurate to your mom’s actual car. It’s all good for Medicaid and at $300 not an issue for asset limit.

I’m more concerned on the particulars with selling her home. Keep in mind, if you & your Sister have paid for house things, and will continue to be paying for things, ask her caseworker as to how to possibly deal with this to be reimbursed if need be. House could be on the market for a while and it will have homeowners insurance, utilities and upkeep costs….. all adding up. Medicaid tends to take the position that all we do whatever for our elders out of a sense of familial responsibility & without expectation of reimbursement.

If you find after speaking with the caseworker that it is highly unlikely for you or Sis to be able to be reimbursed from the Act of Sale $, and you really cannot afford house costs, clearly make the Realtor aware of this. Realtors will push for fresh landscaping, new paint, better appliances, etc. Realtor need to understand it is a firm “as is”. Now if you hired a contractor to do things, they can place a workmans lien on property which gets paid from Sale $. But you & Sis cannot really easily do this type of lien.

If mom has not paid her property tax; delinquent taxes will be paid out of the Act of Sale $. As long as she is not already delinquent for 2-3 years, imo you can let this expense get paid from Act of Sale.
Good luck on getting house sold
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter