My mom has been living alone, claimed as a dependent on my tax returns. She has had Medicaid in Massachusetts based on her income level. She lives in a condo that I own and I help her with expenses - taxes, HOA, etc. No issues there so far.
Now, we are considering moving to California and living together. Can I still claim her as a dependent for tax purposes without losing her eligibility for Medicaid? Does the fact that we will be living under one roof change anything?
We do have a few members from California who maybe able to help.
I’m guessing that she is currently right now just on low income Medicaid and this is really about having Medicaid for her to use as her secondary insurance to her Medicare as her primary health insurance. Is that what it is??? If so, that eligibility across all the states seems to be pretty straightforward.... you have to provided documentation that you are low income enough for the program. It’s just about at need financially for Medicaid as health insurance.
Medicaid is a huge program in each state. Everthing from breast pump loan outs on WIC Medicaid to kids healthy teeth vans for CHIP Medicaid to Paying for an elder in a nursing home in LTC Medicaid. But the basics are all similar..... she will need to show - by her taxes, her info from SSA or retirements, her bank accounts - that she is low income enough to qualify for Medicaid & then “at need” for the specific Medicaid program.
So one thing you want to be careful of is not to do anything to increase moms finances. Don’t deposit $ into her account. So when you sell the condo in Massachusetts that you own but that she lives in, make sure that all the $ from the sale goes into your account. Putting any $ into her account gives her income & then assets which could affect her being low income enough for CA Medicaid. Comprende?
and just a thought, but if you are right now on employer sponsored health insurance, I’d call either HR or your insurer to see IF you move mom in to live with you and IF she is going to be your legal dependent (like you have IRS filings as to this) THEN ask IF can she can go onto your health insurance. Might be frightenfully expensive but maybe not. The advantage would be that you might be able to overlap the same doctors or care providers or facilities, and prescription service, pay all the same way, so it’s easier & less stress. Finding providers that take new patients who are on mediCARE and Medicaid (aka “duals”) might could be difficult. Hopefully someone in CA (I’m in the other LA, Louisiana) can get you insight on how Medicaid has run for their elders in CA.