Applying for Maryland Medical Assistance Long-Term Care Program
Getting your application for the Maryland Medical Assistance Long-Term Care program started may feel like a daunting task, but with a step-by-step approach, it’s a manageable process. To begin with, you’ll need to collate a comprehensive set of financial documents, medical records, and other necessary paperwork. This detailed information will paint a vivid picture of your loved one’s current situation, a crucial step in determining eligibility.
While you could try to use the Maryland Medical Assistance form as your means to compile this data, many find the form overwhelming and hard to navigate. Our office has prepared an intake form, which we use internally when we guide our clients through the process. You can download our form, for free from our website, and use it as you compile the data. Don’t try to complete either the Maryland form, or our form online or in Adobe Acrobat initially— from our experience, the best practice is to print out the forms, and fill them in by hand as you aggregate the data and ensure that they are up to date as you continue through the process. We have had many clients try to complete these electronically, and they often find that the forms haven’t saved new data, or in some cases have reverted to old inputs. While many of our clients are used to completing forms electronically, this is not the place—we’ve heard many tales of denial, where applications were filed incorrectly because of clerical data entry errors arising from online data compilation. Our site also provides a copy of the Maryland Department of Health’s Long-Term Care application checklist that ensures you’re ticking all the right boxes. As a practice pointer, we do encourage electronic data collection in online file storage systems such as Dropbox, or Box.com. Downloading five years of statements for each of the applicants’ bank and brokerage accounts and storing them in organized subdirectories will make your application process smoother, as the number of printed files required for an application can often be overwhelming.
Once you’ve gathered your documents and taken advantage of these resources, the next step is to submit your application. This can be done through the local Department of Social Services or the local HealthChoice Program, ensuring your application reaches the right hands.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, appointments are not required to submit the application. When submitting, we do recommend preparing an index to the documents, by type and date to help keep them organized, and to track what’s been submitted. It’s important to remember that applying for the Maryland Medical Assistance Long-Term Care program is not a race. It’s a meticulous process that demands attention to detail. By taking your time to understand the process, utilizing the resources available, and completing each step with care, you increase your chances of securing this vital financial assistance. It may be an intricate journey but remember – it’s a path towards ensuring the best care for your loved one.
Resources:
JDKatz Intake Form for Medicaid Applications
Maryland Medical Assistance Long-Term Care Checklist
By: Jeffrey D. Katz, Esq., Managing Partner, JDKatz, P.C.
