Medicaid’s Estate Recovery Provision Makes Some Enrollees Think Twice
Federal law requires the program to charge for some services that may be billed to a beneficiary's estate after he or she dies. It is a scenario that is giving some people pause.
The PBS NewsHour:
The Medicaid Bill That Doesn’t Go Away When You Die
Although often considered free health insurance for the poor, federal law requires Medicaid to charge recipients for certain services, and they are sometimes billed after they die. Medicaid then charges the expenses to their leftover assets. It’s called estate recovery, and it’s making many people think twice. (Schilling, 3/24)
The Associated Press:
State Medicaid Program Lost Out On $27M From Estates
Missouri's Medicaid program could have recovered as much as $27 million from more than 30,000 estates of deceased patients but did not file claims in time, according to a statewide audit of federal programs released Tuesday. Federal and Missouri laws allow the state to recover Medicaid funds spent on a participant as a state debt but a claim against the person's estate in probate court must be filed within a year of their death. (French, 3/24)
