Tell these 10 states: Don't let Medicaid take my house after I die

[Moosepoop]

17. This isn't about nursing home residents.

This is about Medicaid-eligible people aged 55 and up -- but not yet on Medicare -- being required to "pay back" ANY Medicaid expenses they incurred before they got old enough for Medicare if they happen to also own their house.

It's about them -- and ONLY them -- being at risk for "repayment" through the later taking of their homes, for GENERAL MEDICAID COVERAGE between the ages of 55 and later Medicare coverage.

The nursing home thing is a separate issue, except that the "rule" that allows the repayment of nursing home care through the taking of the home creates the possibility of that same thing now happening to people who receive Medicaid for the decade or so before Medicare kicks in. In the ten states in question, the "55+ but not yet retirement age" group can theoretically be forced to pay back their Medicaid coverage years after they've left the program and gone on to Medicare -- only because of their age group (which is below elderly) and because they own a home.

WILL those ten states actually do this to these people, just because they can? Hopefully not -- but the idea of it is being used to scare middle-aged people away from signing up for Medicaid even if their income makes them eligible for now. The "rule" or whatever it is needs to be fixed so that this is not a possibility in the first place.

Do you think that all Medicaid recipients should be made to pay back the costs of their medical care when their income goes up or if/when they die? Do you think that Medicaid should be on a "loan" basis for all, subject to repayment at a later date?

If not, do you now see the problem as it pertains to only one age group? Nobody else outside of nursing home patients has to "pay back" their Medicaid coverage. Only those 55+ and below retirement age, possibly, in 10 states. This is the problem.