This article is a section taken from MA for Long-Term Care Services (MA-LTC) a part of the revisions and additions to the Minnesota Health Care Program Eligibility Policy Manual.
Asset Eligibility for a Long-Term Care Spouse
An asset assessment is required to determine asset eligibility when one spouse, referred to as a long-term care (LTC) spouse, requests Medical Assistance for Long-Term Care Services (MA-LTC). The asset assessment determines the amount of assets protected for the community spouse, known as a Community Spouse Asset Allowance (CSAA). A community spouse lives in the community and does not receive services through the Brain Injury (BI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), Developmental Disability (DD) or EW waiver programs. A community spouse can receive MA or services through the Alternative Care (AC) program.
The asset assessment is only required when the LTC spouse’s basis of eligibility is MA for People Who Are Age 65 or Older or People Who Are Blind or Have a Disability (MA-ABD). An asset assessment is not required when the LTC spouse’s basis of eligibility is MA for Families with Children and Adults (MA-FCA) or when a person enrolled in MA for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) requests MA-LTC.
Nursing homes are required to advise a newly admitted person and their families that asset assessments are available from county and tribal agencies upon request. To assist nursing homes with this responsibility, Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) provides a one-page brochure entitled Asset Assessment Fact Sheet (DHS-3340D).
This section discusses the asset assessment process that determines the CSAA.
MA-LTC Community Spouse Asset Allowance
CREDIT: The content of this post has been copied or adopted from the Minnesota Healthcare Programs Eligibility Policy Manual, originally published by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
This is also part of a series of posts on Minnesota Healthcare Eligibility Policies.