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Will Direct Express Card Funds Affect Medicaid Eligibility?

  • January 25th, 2023
Q
My relative is about to go under long-term care in a nursing home. He has unused funds from years of receiving Social Security and SSI on a Direct Express debit card. They are over $10,000. Will this disqualify him from Medicaid?
A

Yes. In most states, he’ll have to spend his funds down to $2,000. He can spend it on anything for his own benefit, including prepaying for his funeral. However, he won’t be eligible until the day his accounts fall under the threshold. Until that day, he’ll have to pay privately for his care, which is another way to spend down his funds.

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Last Modified: 01/25/2023

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