Medicaid and a quit claim deed.

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Medicaid and a quit claim deed.

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OK, dad "quit-claimed" his house to my sister and I over 10 years ago, and we just put him in a NH this July and applied for Medicaid. Since it is over the 5 year look-back, does that mean Medicaid cannot "count" the house as an asset? After he passes, will Medicaid try and collect any money? Besides this house (which is currently for sale) what if anything, can Medicaid charge us? Dad has no other income except Pension/SS which we are paying to the NH.

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Some states do require that following a deed of transfer of real estate the deed be recorded in the local register of deeds, in order for them to recognize the transfer. Hopefully this was done 10 years ago! If so, the state will not count the house as an asset of your father's and nor will they seek recovery against the house following his death for the Medicaid benefits provided to him. The state can only seek such recovery against assets in your father's name at the time of his death; they cannot seek recovery against other family members.

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To Veronica91, many people will feel as you do. In my own family, I did have to sell my parent's home when it was clear that my mother could no longer be cared for at home. We have burned through all of my parents' savings, inheritances my mother received from siblings who passed, and now the proceeds from the sale of her home. In other words hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, I speak from experience. It is sad that in a wealthy country such as the USA, we do not have any programs that are "reasonable" to pay for decent long term care. I can sleep at night because we are "private pay" and therefore I was able to find a GOOD nursing home for my mother. When her assets are exhausted, we will have to apply for Medicaid. She will be able to remain in her present nursing home. We are not wealthy people. My parents and grandparents worked hard all of their lives. Their plan was to leave their assets behind for their children to enjoy. It didn't work out that way. My advice to aging, still-healthy, parents is to give your children what you would like them to have while you still can, and while you can see them enjoy it. I have no real complaints. I am well educated, retired and am living on a pension, social security and my savings. Even so, I still believe that as a wealthy, modern nation, we should all pay sufficient taxes so that the elderly can be provided for in a more dignified, and humane way. In my opinion, so many Americans have nasty attitudes about providing resources for health care for everyone. I think it is shameful. And, furthermore, the wealthy can afford long-term, in-home, 24 hour care. Just my opinion....

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Sorry, I agree with Veronica on this one! My FIL has lived with us for the last 13 years, and we could easily have "hidden" over a quarter of a Million dollars he had when he first moved in, but instead, encouraged him to keep his money in safe investments, making interest, and put away for his future needs! He is now facing the probability of Assisted living, and will need that money to pay his own way. There will most likely come a time when he will run out of money, and need to apply for Medicaid, but he will have paid out as much as he had, and will still be able to apply his 2 pensions and his SS, shoud he run out.

Would he have preferred to leave all of his money to the one Son, who has looked after him these last 13 years and his Mom before that, Sure, but we would never wish to take his money intended for his long term needs! We will get by on the money we've earned, and our own kids now understand that there will be no inheritance for them either! Tough life lessons!

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You have been advised that you will not have to hand over the proceeds of the house sale.
The one thing I will add though, who do you think will be paying for your loved one's care? Yes, you are correct your fellow taxpayers. We do have to take care of those less fortunate, that is true but it is not a right for people to have free health care just because they took time to protect their assets many years ago. If you have the money you have to pay your bills.
This may not be a popular concept but in my book it comes under the same heading as the very rich hiding their assets in offshore bank accounts. O.K. I am wearing my helmet the pink one with "Nothing is free in this word" on the front.

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Just my 2 cents 😃. Don't think our parents ever thought they would live as long as they did or are. None would want to live with Dementia or Alzheimers. Our parents got it into their heads that they needed to leave their children something. Media tells them they can live in their homes till they die. Then there r the children that feel the parents owe them an inheritance. I know two people who years ago turned their homes over to a child who never left the home and has been there for them. That I can see. But to turn assets over so the children get there inheritance before parents die, no. That house and savings should be there to take care of that parent. Our parents are entitled to Medicaid, they paid for it in payroll deductions just like Medicare and SS. We all have choices to make when it comes to our parents. We all have different personalities and deal with what life deals us differently. I give those of you that have done Caregiving over a period of years tons of credit but for me 20 months at age 66 was too overwhelming with no help from siblings. Some weight has been taken off now Mom is in an AL. Our parents chose to have children. They knew that it was going to cost them time and money, which my parents didn't have a lot of. We're loved, clothed, fed and had a roof over our heads. They didn't go in debt for us I owe the same thing to my Mom. But I don't owe her all and the rest of my life. Yes, she is part of it but so are my children, grands and especially my husband. Our parents paid their dues. They r entitled to what is offered out there. A skilled nursing home is the last place I want to place my Mom but if she is still here next Summer I will have to place her there. Her money runs out. I don't have the money or what it takes to be a caregiver. I agree, sometimes taking in a parent is the only option but we should take advantage of what is out there. Whether our parents like it or not. They become like children so boundaries have to be set. If u can't bath a parent and can get a free aide go for it. They will just have to adjust because "you can't do it". Everyone's situation is different. Some people can multitask most can't. We r here for support not condemning. Politics should be left out.

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GA, I was a biology teacher. I taught in two of the universities in south Georgia. At one my job included going into the prisons. Some were okay. Some were rougher. I didn't mind it at all, since I got to drive long distances on the traffic-free highways of south Georgia. It was actually kind of enjoyable to put the music on and drive.

The school that went into the prisons ran into trouble. There were inmates who had dropped out of the program and the money was routed to students who played baseball. I don't know the full story beyond there was a big investigation and a lot of us faculty members fell off the bottom. Isn't that the way it goes? The upper levels cause the problem and the lower levels pay the price. It turned out okay. I was able to get another job before unemployment ran out.

One thing I liked about going into prisons -- Students who got degrees didn't usually go back. Education can change the way people think about the world and themselves.

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Beronica, Im]'putting on my pink hat with flowers and standing with you. I share your opinions on the Medicaid issue.

Cinderella, even if there were support for a tax increase to expand care for the elderly, the politicians would siphon much of it off and direct it to pork barrel projects. I write that with some rancor, but also with of a sense of "that's how it is."

Zytrhr, there's a big difference between life care for prisoners vs. the aged. I don't know how you could make a comparison - it's not even close to the common used analogy of comparing apples and oranges.

Obviously, prisoners are incarcerated because they've committed crimes and need to be isolated from society. There's no gratuity involved; it's a matter of protection for society from them. That's hardly on a par with taking care of elderly people.

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Well, I guess I need a wardrobe addition. Can GA, Stacey or Veronica suggest the best place to purchase a pink hat? I am firmly of the opinion that parent's money should be used for their care, not hidden for inheritance purposes. I am experiencing this myself as my mother nears the bottom of the over $400,000 she had when my father died nearly 10 years ago. Assisted living, memory care and the dismal interest rates have drained the piggy bank pretty fast. I only wish that there would be some credit given to the fact that mom has been private pay for all these years and maybe deserves a better choice of facility in her remaining years. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter that my father worked hard for 70 years and saved the state hundreds of thousands of dollars, she will be treated just like someone who is on Medicaid from day one. I don't want to inherit anything, I just want her to get top quality care.

On an unrelated note, how do you ladies feel about some of the extraordinary medical services provided for prisoners? In my state, prisoners are allowed to have organ transplants, plastic surgery "to improve their self-esteem" and even gender re-assignment surgery on the government's dime. I believe that these folks deserve basic medical care, but it does bother me a bit that they get free services that hard working, contributing members of society may not be able to afford. Any thoughts?

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GA, My Pink hat is permanently welded onto my head! Wouldn't we Love to have had all of that money in an inheritance package? You bet! But I wouldn't feel very good, knowing that we scammed our government out of the many thousands needed for his eventual care! Who knows what life will bring, maybe there Will be monies left over, as who knows what the future brings, but it is His money now, safely protected for His care. Now, if we did decide to go on, and keep him here in our home, in our custody and care, my husband would eventually inherit his Dad's money, but to what end? My husband and I missing out on any chance of ever enjoying our own retirement? And don't think that we haven't thought on this, but No, the money isn't worth it in the long run, and our future, enjoying it the best we can, Is more important. We given him a nice life for 13 years, and now that we too are running out of gas, caring for him all these years, it's Our Time, and we intend to go after it. We both worked hard all our lives, saved and invested, raised our kids, and have done right by all 4 of our parents and they understood this, even his Dad understands that the time is now! We will not abandon him, we will still be there, advocate for his good care and wellbeing, visiting him and including him in our lives, but we will begin to have some independence, and be able to get some traveling in, as long as he is safe and well cared for. He will pay his own way, just as we will to the best of our ability.

If every parent signed over their homes and life savings to their children, well in advance of their needing their own monies to live in Senior housing and care facilities, our government would be in an even worsen position then it already is! It's scary to even think about!

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I have to add my 2 cents worth, if your dad needs medicaid then he should have it reguardless whether he gave you the house or not.
These people that wear their pink helments probably have never cared day and nite for a parent!!! My mither begged me to not put her in a nursing home, so like a good daughter i didnt, she agreed to pay me a wage so 8 would quit my job...... That was 10 years ago, i was 51 and now 61and will have no retirement ir much in social security when she is gone.
Im burnt out to say the least, its ruined my second marriage to the point we cant do or go anywhere without it costing a fortune!!! I no longer ever have me time, or us time or time for my kids and grandkids, im so so tired so if it takes medicaid to take care if a parent then do it, i wished i had done it all differently.
Besides look how many young people are on medicaid. It does not pay to work all your life to have a, decent life to have it all ripped away!!!
Sorry this is so long but peopke who do not step up to the plate like i did to take care if a parent gave NO idea!!!

Medicaid and a quit claim deed.

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