30:4D-7.2 - Lien against recovery sought from estate of recipient, "estate" defined
30:4D-7.2. Lien against recovery sought from estate of recipient, "estate" defined
7. a. (1) A lien may be filed against and recovery sought from the estate of a deceased recipient for assistance correctly paid or to be paid on his behalf for all services received when he was 65 years of age or older, except as provided in section 1 of P.L.1981, c.217 (C.30:4D-7.2a).
(2) In the case of a recipient who became deceased on or after April 1, 1995 for whom a Medicaid payment was made on or after October 1, 1993, a lien may be filed against and recovery sought from the estate of the deceased recipient for assistance correctly paid or to be paid on his behalf for all services received when he was 55 years of age or older, except as provided in section 1 of P.L.1981, c.217 (C.30:4D-7.2a).
(3) As used in this section, "estate" includes all real and personal property and other assets included in the recipient's estate as defined in N.J.S.3B:1-1, as well as any other real and personal property and other assets in which the recipient had any legal title or interest at the time of death, to the extent of that interest, including assets conveyed to a survivor, heir or assign of the recipient through joint tenancy, tenancy in common, survivorship, life estate, living trust or other arrangement.
b. A lien may be filed by the division against a third party's property, whether real or personal, or against any interest or estate in property, whether vested or contingent.
Subject to section 6 of P.L.1979, c.365 (C.30:4D-7.1), any third party recovery obtained by the division under this subsection shall not be reduced by any counsel fees, costs, or other expenses, or portions thereof, incurred by the recipient or the recipient's attorney.
c. A certificate of debt may be filed by the division against such parties and in such a manner as is specified in subsection (h) of section 17 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-17).
d. (1) A lien, claim or encumbrance imposed by this act shall be deemed a preferred claim against the recipient's estate and shall have a priority equivalent to that under subsection d. of N.J.S.3B:22-2.
(2) In the case of a recipient who became deceased on or after the effective date of P.L.1995, c.289, a lien, claim or encumbrance imposed pursuant to this section shall be deemed a preferred claim against the recipient's estate and shall have a priority equivalent to that under subsection c. of N.J.S.3B:22-2.
L.1979,c.365,s.7; amended 1992,c.115,s.1; 1995,c.289,s.1.