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Many people understand the general rule that if you own more than $2,000 of assets (there are definitions of "assets") when you enter a nursing home, then you will not be eligible for Medicaid, and you must privately pay the entire nursing home expense, which in every state is many thousands of dollars monthly.

However, most people, if they must enter a nursing home for long term care services, would prefer to have Medicaid cover this expense, rather than have to pay for it out of their own life savings. But in order to qualify for Medicaid, you have to meet your state's definition of "poor."

For starters, when you enter a nursing home and apply for Medicaid, you can have no more than $2,000 of countable resources. Countable resources include things like money in the bank, investments, savings bonds, retirement accounts, real estate (not your home), and interests in a business or LLC.

Some uneducated folks think they can get around this rule by "quietly" transferring assets out of their name just prior to going into a nursing home. But the Medicaid Manual's rules are quite extensive making it impossible to get around the rules.

When one enters a nursing home having transferred assets out of their name at least 60 months prior to applying for Medicaid, then it is likely that those assets are, as people say, "protected."

It's much trickier if assets are transferred within the 60 months prior to entering a nursing home.

If you are considering transferring assets to start the fiveyear clock ticking, you'll likely consider whether you should transfer assets to individuals or trusts. Most people who get educated on the subject tend to transfer assets to particular types of trusts, for two reasons: (1) control reasons; and (2) tax reasons (income tax and capital gains tax).

If you take one item away from this discussion, it's that there are rules which make it very difficult to avoid losing your life savings and home if you enter a nursing home, but by planning ahead (ideally, at least five years before entering a nursing home), you can protect a very large portion of what you own for yourself and your loved ones. But know that the rules are complicated and you need good legal help ideally, from an attorney who is wellversed on the ins and outs of your state's Medicaid eligibility rules.

This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site. Using this site or communicating with Rabalais Estate Planning, LLC, through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship.

Paul Rabalais
Estate Planning Attorney
www.RabalaisEstatePlanning.com
Phone: (225) 3292450