My Mom is listed as Co-Owner on my Uncle's Insurance policy. This was found on Unclaimed Money. My Mom was on Medicaid in a nursing home at time of death in 2007 (her monies had been depleted) , if I try to claim this money, will the State Of RI take the money for Medicaid Recovery. There are two policies that are roughly $800.00 a piece.
Here’s why..... in 2005 Bush 2 administration passed DRA - Deficit Reduction Act. It is within DRA that a reset of Medicaid regulations were done. Like that MERP / estate recovery had to be attempted in some way by all states and federal guides on it. MERP has been part of feds funding to Medicaid since 1990’s but every state did it differently. Some did zero recovery, like no system set up at all. Most seems to do like if estate was over 300k / 500k. DRA made all states come up with a system but one that worked within however their states laws for property rights, probate laws. (& this part matters to this day as Tifra states do recoup way different than those more pro-property rights states, like FL, MI, TX)
But I digress. Each state had to actually pass DRA. So like your state legislators had to have it tweaked to fit & mesh with existing state laws. This takes t...I...m...e. Some states did it in 2006. But others much later, like 2009-2010. Anyone who was on Medicaid BEFORE your state actually passed DRA and got it placed into the Medicaid application filed & signed are EXCLUDED from MERP as they were under old Medicaid rules.
if your mom died in 2007, she likely went on Medicaid before DRA for your state. No clawback.
File for $. Have mass said for her or make her favorite meal w/the $.
Let us know how it goes too. We do all learn from each other.
Btw my state -Louisiana- did a huge post Katrina unclaimed funds road show in malls all over. Like with TV & radio ads, huge legal notice section in newspapers all across the state. $ from insurance policies, abandoned bank accounts, undeliverable mail, returned FEMA $. It was cray cray. Ours was at a Lakeside Mall in Metairie and lines were out the doors. 2 IDs and some tangible connection to the $ & you left with a check. Happiness all around.
In my opinion its been 13 years. 1600 isn't even all that much and 20% of that may be taxed. ( insurance proceeds aren't usually taxed) Leaving u with even less. You probably had to prove Mom had no assets once she died. Her case has been closed for a long time. I wouldn't worry about Medicaid at this point.