What is the name of your state? NC
I don't want to sound overly dramatic but these are all facts. My parents live in NC and I am in school right now. My father is 73 and is in need of either in-home or nursing home care. He is on Medicare, has SS income and money from a pension. He has been retired for awhile but is in dire shape because of many ailments including cancer. My mother works but does not make much money and is struggling with the after-effects of lung cancer surgery a few years ago. She is no condition to help my father at any rate. However, they have exorbiant credit card debt - one credit card at around 22% APR was used for my mother's hospital bills.
My questions are the following:
1. NC mentions something about having only $2K in assets to qualify for Medicaid. My parents have a house (still on mortgage) but not worth much as it's in utter shambles because of my parents' severe problems. Who should I call first about getting him on Medicaid and what are limitations in income, etc.? He still gets the various incomes I mentioned above.
2. Should I get them to file bankruptcy? There are no bill collectors calling as my parents do pay all their bills on time, but my parents cannot sustain this for much longer. They don't have anything left over each month. I am wiling to take my mother back with me when I start working again, but I cannot care for my father and cannot afford for him to go to a nursing home. If I take my mother with and she no longer works thereafter, what will happen with the debt, etc. Will they come after me?
I just don't know what to do and they cannot afford a lawyer.
Please, please advise. Many thanks in advance.
I don't want to sound overly dramatic but these are all facts. My parents live in NC and I am in school right now. My father is 73 and is in need of either in-home or nursing home care. He is on Medicare, has SS income and money from a pension. He has been retired for awhile but is in dire shape because of many ailments including cancer. My mother works but does not make much money and is struggling with the after-effects of lung cancer surgery a few years ago. She is no condition to help my father at any rate. However, they have exorbiant credit card debt - one credit card at around 22% APR was used for my mother's hospital bills.
My questions are the following:
1. NC mentions something about having only $2K in assets to qualify for Medicaid. My parents have a house (still on mortgage) but not worth much as it's in utter shambles because of my parents' severe problems. Who should I call first about getting him on Medicaid and what are limitations in income, etc.? He still gets the various incomes I mentioned above.
2. Should I get them to file bankruptcy? There are no bill collectors calling as my parents do pay all their bills on time, but my parents cannot sustain this for much longer. They don't have anything left over each month. I am wiling to take my mother back with me when I start working again, but I cannot care for my father and cannot afford for him to go to a nursing home. If I take my mother with and she no longer works thereafter, what will happen with the debt, etc. Will they come after me?
I just don't know what to do and they cannot afford a lawyer.
Please, please advise. Many thanks in advance.