Can I paid back Medicare to keep them from taking my home?
Good news -- your home will NOT be taken by Medicare or Medicaid, or by Social Security or SSI. And you don't have to pay back any money to anyone. You've heard a piece of information about Medicaid (not Medicare) "estate recovery" that applies to some Medicaid recipients but does not apply to you.
After someone dies who's been receiving Medicaid long-term care coverage (not regular Medicaid medical coverage), Medicaid can seek repayment of the funds it spent for the person's long-term care -- in a nursing home or in a home-and-community based program -- after the person had reached the age of 55. This money can be sought out of the value of the deceased Medicaid recipient's house, though not as long as the spouse is still living there. But this estate recovery does NOT apply to regular Medicaid coverage of medical care expenses (as opposed to long-term care) and does NOT apply to someone under age 55. So, from your description of your situation, the Medicaid estate recovery provisions would not apply to you (at least at this point in your life). As for Medicare, Social Security disability benefits, and SSI, none of them does estate recovery and cannot touch your house.
If you still have any concerns about this matter, contact the local office that handles your Medicaid eligibility and ask them for an appointment to see a Medicaid case worker to discuss your concerns in person.
sorry to inform you but your home will be taken, this is actually a process my family is going though now! medicare or Medicaid can take your property to pay back your balance. your children would have to go through a huge process and have to pay back a portion or this total in order to receive the home. and sometimes it might not even work out and they would lose the home, the states are not nice and not considerate to the cares of you or your family, they are very rude people to deal with on top of losing a loved one... so please in all honesty as someone going through this, it is possible to lose your home!
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