DHA Case No. MGE 211422 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals February 1, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF A life-insurance funded burial contract (LIFBC or “burial insurance”) can be funded with more than $4,500 and still be exempt for Medicaid eligibility; but an irrevocable funeral trust can only make up to $4,500 truly irrevocable and […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 209328 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals December 5, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An application for Institutional MA can be backdated up to three months before the month of application. The MEH provides that an application faxed and received by the agency after business hours counts as filed on the […] Read more

DHA Case No. MDV 209022 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals August 25, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An appeal of a divestment penalty must be filed within 45 days; an appeal of a hardship waiver denial must also be filed within 45 days. In this case, the agency imposed a divestment penalty when the […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 210319 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals October 20, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF In general, all available assets are counted and counted assets are not reduced by outstanding debt. In this case, the petitioner had excess assets at her renewal and an overpayment claim that was pending but not yet […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 210600 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals December 22, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An ALJ may increase the community spouse income allocation (CSIA) if the community spouse does not have enough income to pay his or her “necessary and basic maintenance needs.” In this case, the CSIA was increased in […] Read more

DHA Case No. MDV 210996 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals December 27, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The penalty period for divestments reported or discovered during the COVID-19 does not begin until “the member’s next renewal that occurs after April 1, 2023.” In this case, the petitioner sold her house in January 2023 and […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 209995 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals December 1, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An ALJ may increase the community spouse income allocation (CSIA) if the community spouse does not have enough income to pay his or her “necessary and basic maintenance needs.” In this case, the agency did not explain […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 209934 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals November 13, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Collectibles acquired or held because of their value as an investment are countable assets. In this case, the petitioner owned sports memorabilia worth about $35,000 but argued the collection was (1) unavailable due to the time it […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 190017 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals March 11, 2019) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF When an irrevocable trust is involved, the Department may require documentation needed to determine when assets were added, what distributions have been made, and whether a divestment occurred. In this case, the petitioner applied and disclosed an […] Read more

DHA Case No. MDV 193440 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals June 11, 2019) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF A land contract must have a term within the lender’s life expectancy, provide for equal payments, and not allow cancellation on the death of the lender to avoid being considered a divestment. If it does not meet […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 208326 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals July 18, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Amember’s patient liability can be reduced to allow payment of medical or remedial expenses that the member “has incurred, is actually paying, and is legally obligated to pay.” In this case, after losing fair hearings on the […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 208349 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals June 13, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF In general, applicants are responsible for verification—but agencies cannot deny eligibility when the applicant has no ability to get the required verification. In this case, the petitioner and his wife were both applying for Institutional MA through their […] Read more

DHA Case No. MRA 208459 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals June 29, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An ALJ may increase the community spouse income allocation (CSIA) if the community spouse does not have enough income to pay his or her “necessary and basic maintenance needs.” In this case, the community spouse had income […] Read more

DHA Case No. MDV 208396 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals June 29, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Any transfer of resources for less than fair market value is generally a divestment, but there is an exception if the resource was transferred “exclusively for some other purpose than to become eligible for MA.” In this […] Read more