Elder financial abuse and Medicaid: How are they related?

A major problem faces Americans as they grow older – Elder Financial Abuse. But did you know that there is a documented link between elder financial abuse and Medicaid denials?

What is Elder Financial Abuse?

Elder financial abuse is a growing issue for Americans. Studies show that $2.9 Billion are lost every year because seniors are either unable to protect themselves or unaware that they should be doing so in the first place. As the baby boomer generation grows older these numbers will only increase. The Older Americans Act defines financial exploitation as using fraudulent or otherwise illegal or improper means of using an older person’s wealth and finances for personal gain. This type of abuse may happen in the form of: writing checks in a fraudulent or unauthorized fashion, stealing income checks or the dreaded identity theft.

To make matters worse, one of the most disheartening aspects of elder financial abuse is that the perpetrator involved is often a relative or friend of the victim. These wrongdoers take advantage of the trust placed in them for their own greed and financial gain.

Unfortunately, financial exploitation has some serious, unforeseeable consequences, including the denial of Medicaid benefits that are crucial for many elder’s long-term care.

Denial of Medicaid Eligibility

We all know that when applying for any type of federal program it’s vital to have your documents in order. Unfortunately, when an elder entrusts this task to the relative or guardian who happens to be stealing from them, that person may have cause to either refrain from producing these documents or destroying them altogether. If someone has been abusing bank accounts or writing checks without permission, they will not want to provide these records to the federal agency in charge of awarding Medicaid benefits. Sadly, because of these events that were beyond their control seniors may not be given the benefits which they need desperately.

Elder financial abuse may also impact severely the “look-back” process in which the government exams any large financial gifts they may have given to loved ones in the past five years. If an abuser has been essentially gifting funds to themselves the elder may have difficulty proving their lack of consent.

2 Warning Signs (and How to Protect Yourself)

Below are two common methods of manipulation that offenders may employ to steal from the elderly:

• One of the primary ways that a guilty party will attempt to separate the elderly from their money is through social isolation. In this scenario, the guardian keeps the elder away from other relatives or outsiders who may inquire about the elder’s finances.
• Another warning sign to watch out for is if a guardian or someone close to a senior asks to create a joint account. In such a situation, both parties are equal owners and have equal access to the account’s funds. This means that a senior may find their bank account emptied without notice. Unless the senior person thinks there is a legitimate reason to do this, the answer should be “no.” Honest guardians should help aging family members with their affairs without taking any ownership rights. If a person becomes unable to make their own decisions, then a caregiver should consult an elder law attorney about establishing legal rights to gain full access to the finances by becoming a guardian or conservator.

If you have additional question regarding the content of this blog or you need assistance with establishing a guardianship or conservatorship, give Andre O. McDonald, a knowledgeable Howard County estate planning, special-needs planning, Medicaid/long-term care planning and business planning attorney a call today at (443) 741-1088, to schedule a no obligation consultation.

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS BLOG IS INTENDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT ENTENDED TO CONVEY LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE.