Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 26, 2024 OBITUARIES Edward J. Burge THE HOME AND THE MEDICAID LIEN T he general rule is that the home and any adjacent land, if located in Massachusetts, is considered to be a “non-countable” asset for MassHealth eligibility purposes as long as the applicant checks off the box on the MassHealth application stating that he or she intends on returning home from a nursing home. This may or may not be likely to happen but by checking the box, the home will not be a countable asset. Assuming that for a single person the total of all other countable assets is $2,000 or less, the applicant will be eligible for MassHealth benefits. MassHealth’s estate recovery unit will, however, place a lien on the property. This is done so in order to seek repayment of Medicaid benefits paid to the nursing home upon the death of the MassHealth applicant. The home would have to be sold (or mortgaged) in order to pay back MassHealth. It is important to note, in 2024, the home will not be considered a “non-countable” asset if the equity in the home exceeds $1,071,000. There is an exception to this rule. The home will still be non-countable if a spouse is living there or a blind or permanently disabled child is living there, regardless of its value. The benefit of applying mately 107 months. In other words, it would taketwice as long to lose all of the value of the home. The Medicaid rate is what MassHealth actually pays to the nursing home each month. The daily rate paid is based upon the level of care provided to the applicant. In this example, if the for MassHealth and keeping the home is that estate recovery will be based upon the “Medicaid” rate and not the private pay rate. Therefore, the ultimate recovery against the home will be much less. If the private pay rate for the average nursing home in Massachusetts is $15,000 per month, the “Medicaid” rate might be, for example, $7,000 per month. This may be one reason why not to sell the house. For example, if the home is sold for $750,000, at $15,000 per month for nursing home cost, the equity in the home would be entirely wiped out in approximately 50 months. However, if MassHealth is applied for and the house is not sold, and the application is approved, assuming the “Medicaid” rate is $7,000 per month, the equity in the home would not be wiped out until approxiMassHealth recipient died in the nursing home after 36 months, the payback to MassHealth would only be $252,000, leaving $498,000 in equity for the family members upon the applicant’s death. In this example, I am assuming the applicant is single. If married, the house can simply be transferred to the spouse who is still living at home. So it pays to at least look at your options when dealing with the home and MassHealth eligibility. It also makes a lot of sense to consider transferring your home to an irrevocable Medicaid-qualifying Trust. In that case, after the five year look-back period is over, the house will be protected. This would avoid probate and also any Estate Recovery Lien. MassHealth estate recovery only applies to the probate estate, not assets held in Trust. Joseph D. Ca taldo is an esta te planning/elder law a ttorney,Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. song “Sandcastles” for the album “Lemonade”? 9. Bhutan, Malta and Wales have what imaginary animal on their flags? 1. On July 26, 1990, what president signed the Americans with Disabilities Act? 2. Who originally performed “Under the Boardwalk”? 3. The world’s oldest subway train operator, Helen Antenucci, 82, recently celebrated her birthday and received a Guinness World Records certificate; a plaque in her honor is at what MBTA station? 4. On July 27, 1946, what author of “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” died? 5. What famous sculpture by Michelangelo has a man’s first name? 6. How are the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Petra, Colosseum, Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, Machu Pichu and Chichén Itzá similar? 7. On July 28, 1917, the Silent Parade, a march against violence towards African Americans, happened along what important avenue? 8. What singer recorded the 10. What type of cycle is used in basketball games? 11. On July 29, 1954, the first part of what fantasy trilogy by an author with a name with three initials was published? 12. What playwright created “As You Like It” with the song “Under the greenwood tree”? 13. Is a phaeton a touring car or a horse-drawn vehicle? 14. On July 30, 1932, the Olympic Games in Los Angeles opened; what Olympics venue was first instituted then? O f Saugus. Died on S a tur - day, July 20th at the age of 90. He was the beloved husband of Virginia (Malin) Burge with whom he shared 64 years of marriage. Born and raised in Chelsea, Mr. Burge was the son of the late Arthur and Mary (Budny) Burge. A graduate of Johnson and Wales, Edward was a retired electrical designer for Raytheon. A resident of Saugus for the past 65 years, he loved finance and was an avid swimmer. He was also very proud of his years of service during the Korean War serving in the Air Force. In addition to his wife, Mr. Burge is survived by his four children, Rosellen Furbush of Nashua, NH, Lori Jepson of Barnstead, NH, Debbie Gonsalves of Barnstead, NH and Edward J. Burge, Jr. of Salem; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; three brothers, Joseph Burge of FL, Thomas, Burge of Chelsea and James Burge of FL. He was predeceased by two brothers, Arthur and William Burge. Relatives and friends were 15. The International Cycling Union fined cyclist Julien Bernard for kissing his wife during what race? 16. What does pesto mean in Italian? 17. July 31 is National Avocado Day; avocado is called what name that combines an animal and a fruit? 18. Which are older, jellyfish or dinosaurs? 19. What kind of bird has a “racing homer” breed that was created for racing? 20. On Aug. 1, 1819, what American writer about the sea – who once sailed on whalers from Massachusetts and lived in Pittsfield – was born? invited to attend visiting hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, Saugus on Wednesday, July 24. A funeral service was held in the funeral home on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, donations in Edward’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA at alz.org/manh. Laura C. (Galinski) Drella O f Saugus formerly Chelsea. Died on July 19, 2024 at the Kaplan Family Hospice in Danvers at the age of 83. She was the wife of the late Stanley Drella. Born and raised in Chelsea, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Catherine (Znarowski) Galinski. A 1958 Chelsea High School graduate and a graduate of Suffolk University Mrs. Drella worked for 30 years as an executive secretary in the financial world. A resident of Saugus for the last 57 years, she had a second career working as a co-teacher at the Northeast Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield. Mrs. Drella enjoyed jazz music and was a lover of Fine Arts. For many years she was active in her OBITS | SEE PAGE 17 ANSWERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. George H.W. Bush The Drifters Aquarium (her favorite stop) Gertrude Stein David They are the new seven Wonders of the World. Fifth Avenue in NYC Beyoncé Dragon Unicycle 11. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien 12. Shakespeare 13. Both (some cars have names derived from carriage names). 14. The Olympic Village 15. Tour de France 16. Pounded 17. 18. Alligator pear Jellyfish 19. Pigeon 20. Herman Melville
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