HealthFirst Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program, has ways of getting back the money it paid for an indigent person’s care. One of those ways is by siphoning off the top of a deceased patient’s estate.
I received a letter from the state this week alerting me that my estate may be garnished when I die. I am not terribly concerned about this as I doubt I will have many assets when I pass. And I’ll be dead. And I have nobody to leave anything to.
According to the letter, the state may be able to infringe upon your estate if you:
· Are currently residing in an institution.
· Are age 55 or older and receive nursing facility services and related hospital and
prescription drug services.
· Are age 55 or older and receive home and community-based services and related hospital
and prescription drug services.
“Estate recovery is required by federal law,” the letter stated. “The program helps pay the costs of providing care to Health First Colorado members. The law says the State of Colorado is required to take money from a member’s estate after they die to help repay costs for certain health care services the member received. Members may be enrolled in managed care organizations. Capitation payments and premium payments made to the managed care organization(s) may be included in the Medicaid estate recovery claim against an estate.”