Medicaid (MassHealth) Application Lawyer in Needham, MA 

Serving You in Mashpee, Cape Cod & the Greater Boston Area

Facing the prospect of long-term care, whether in a nursing facility or through in-home services, can be one of the most financially stressful periods for you and your family. In Massachusetts, Medicaid (MassHealth), known as MassHealth, is the primary program that pays for long-term care; however, the application process can be notoriously tricky to navigate alone.

Discuss your situation with our Needham & Mashpee Medicaid (MassHealth) application attorney by contacting us online or at (781) 303-9594. We offer convenient virtual consultations. 

Why You Need Legal Help with the MassHealth Application

The complexity of the application process stems from the stringent and often counterintuitive financial rules designed to ensure that benefits go only to those with genuine financial need.

The five-year look-back period: When applying for MassHealth long-term care, the state reviews all financial transactions, including gifts and asset transfers, for the 60 months (five years) immediately preceding the application. Improper transfers or gifts during this period can trigger a severe penalty period, delaying or denying essential coverage.

Asset and income limits: You must meet strict limits on "countable" assets and income. Knowing which assets are exempt (like your primary residence, certain retirement accounts, and prepaid funeral trusts) and which are countable is essential to avoid unnecessarily spending down your life savings.

Spousal protection rules: When one spouse needs long-term care, and the other remains at home (the "community spouse"), federal and state rules are in place to prevent the community spouse from becoming impoverished. These rules, regarding the Community Spouse Resource Allowance and the Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance, are complex but vital to protect your financial security.

Attempting a DIY application often leads to avoidable, costly mistakes: This can include application denial, unnecessary depletion of savings, or failing to protect assets the law allows you to keep.

The MassHealth Application Process: How We Help

At Lannik Law, we can manage the entire application process, transforming a stressful and complex procedure into a structured, manageable plan. Our goal is to secure your eligibility swiftly while protecting the maximum amount of assets legally allowed.

Our Comprehensive Service Steps

Initial strategy and crisis planning: We first conduct a thorough review of your health, assets, income, and any transactions made during the five-year look-back period. Whether you are planning or facing an immediate "crisis" (a sudden need for care), we develop a personalized strategy to achieve eligibility while preserving your wealth.

Asset restructuring and protection: Based on our strategy, we use legally sanctioned techniques, such as drafting Medicaid (MassHealth)-compliant trusts, using promissory notes, or executing a formal caregiver agreement, to convert countable assets into non-countable or exempt assets. This is a crucial step in legally reorganizing your finances to meet the eligibility threshold.

Document gathering and preparation: The application requires extensive documentation from the past five years. We provide you with a detailed checklist and assist in gathering, organizing, and properly explaining what is needed. 

Application submission and advocacy: We accurately complete the lengthy MassHealth application (for both nursing home care and Home and Community-Based Waivers) and submit it, along with all required verification documents, to the MassHealth Enrollment Center. 

We then act as your legal representative, responding immediately to any request for information from the MassHealth caseworker, and defending the application to prevent common delays or denials. 

Appeals (if necessary): If an application is improperly denied, we handle the administrative appeal process, including representing you at any hearing to aggressively advocate for your right to benefits.