The mysteries of Medicaid

Dear John: I worked all my life and was in the Army. Just this year I received a pacemaker.

I was getting $1,445 a month from disability, and I received a letter from Medicaid saying that as of Nov. 15 I am terminated.

I take over nine pills a day and am required to take other heart medication. Do you know how I can get some kind of coverage and where I can go? I’m lost! V.G.

Dear V.G. I have to tell you something. We set the all-time record in getting something done on a Medicaid problem.

It took the New York State Office for the Aging less than two hours to solve this problem after I contacted a spokesperson. Let’s hear some applause for Albany.

That’s enough. Anyway, the answer is: “John, our staff called Mr. G. to discuss the circumstances surrounding his Medicaid termination. It turns out that his Medicaid file has not been closed, and his coverage will be in effect until Nov. 30, 2011.

“Mr. G recently received a disability determination, and it is likely that his monthly disability payment of $1,425 will disqualify him for Medicaid — the income threshold for Medicaid eligibility is $750/month.

“He will qualify for Medicare benefits beginning Feb. 1, 2012.”

The office said that a caseworker has been in touch with you; the office wants you to contact this caseworker in February so they can work on getting you all the Medicare benefits you deserve.

“He seemed pleased with the communication,” said my contact:

Reza Mizbani

Public Information Officer

NYS Office for the Aging

2 Empire State Plaza

Albany, NY 12223-1251.

Dear John: How does a regular pension check affect my Medicaid status?

If I pass away, my wife would continue to get the same amount under my pension. But if I need to go into a nursing home, will that facility get my pension check? And if yes, when I pass on, will my wife start getting the check again? P.A.

Dear P.A. The New York State Office for the Aging says every situation can be different, but the basic scenario would be that Medicaid would allow your spouse to retain assets up to about $110,000 and monthly income up to around $2,700.

“Spousal impoverishment provisions are amended periodically so at the point he applies (hopefully way in the future), the numbers may look very different,” said a spokesman for the Office.

Also, Medicaid may employ a look-back period of up to several years to determine if you transferred resources such as houses, property, stock or businesses for less than the fair market value.

In other words, Medicaid won’t let you park assets in someone else’s name in order to keep it out of Medicaid’s grasp.

“This could render you ineligible for a period of time before Medicaid would kick in,” the spokesman says. “You may, however, set up certain trusts, such as a burial trust, which may not be counted against your resources.

I hope that helps.

Send your questions to Dear John, The N.Y. Post, 1211 Ave. of the Americas, N.Y., N.Y., 10036, or john.crudele@nypost.com.