Medicaid Help for Georgia Patients & Families

Georgia uses an “income‑cap” rule for long‑term‑care Medicaid. In 2025 a single applicant must keep gross monthly income below $2,901, while countable assets are limited to $2,000; couples applying together may keep $3,000 in countable assets. If only one spouse needs care, the at‑home spouse can retain up to $157,920 of the couple’s resources under federal spousal‑impoverishment protections, plus divert income up to $3,948 / month to meet living expenses.

Medical need is just as important. A physician or nurse must certify that you require a nursing‑home level of care, whether you plan to enter a facility or receive services at home. Meeting both the financial and clinical tests opens the door to several Medicaid programs—and The  Medicaid  Firm can help structure your finances (for example through a Miller Trust) so you qualify without sacrificing everything you’ve saved

Once approved, Medicaid covers virtually the entire nursing‑facility bill—often $7,000–$10,000+ per month—including room, board, skilled nursing, rehab, and medications. The resident keeps only a small personal‑needs allowance; the rest of their income is applied to care, with Medicaid paying the balance. The  Medicaid  Firm coordinates “Medicaid Pending” status so facilities accept patients while the application is processed.

Prefer to remain at home? Georgia’s Elderly & Disabled Waiver (still widely called CCSP) provides in‑home aides, adult‑day health, respite, meals, and emergency response systems for those who meet nursing‑home criteria but can be cared for safely in the community. Slots are limited, so joining the wait‑list early is critical; our team completes the screening with your Area Agency on Aging and follows up until services start.

Families often want to keep care in‑house. Under Georgia’s waiver, a live‑in relative (not a spouse) can receive a tax‑free stipend—typically $700–$1,100 +/mo depending on care level—plus coaching from a provider agency. We confirm eligibility, pair you with an SFC agency, and handle the paperwork so caregiving relatives get paid for the work they already do.

Medicaid rules allow perfectly legal strategies to reposition or “spend down” assets without waste. Typical moves include paying off debt, making safety upgrades to the home, purchasing irrevocable burial contracts, or converting excess cash into exempt assets such as a replacement automobile. When income is the issue, we draft and fund Qualified Income Trusts (Miller Trusts) so every dollar above the cap funnels through the trust and you still qualify.

Planning must be precise: gifts or transfers for less than fair‑market value within five years trigger a penalty. The  Medicaid Firm reviews past transactions, fixes problem areas, and designs a protection roadmap that preserves wealth for a spouse or heirs while meeting Georgia’s strict look‑back rules.

Collect Documents
Gather ID, income, and asset documents in one folder.

Confirm Care Need
Have your physician sign the state level‑of‑care form.

File for Medicaid
Submit the application through Georgia Gateway or your local DFCS office.

Pick Your Setting
Enter a nursing home now or join the home‑care waiver wait‑list.

Track & Respond
Answer any state follow‑up questions until you receive written approval.