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I worked for 36 years assisting clients with Medicaid applications. These are some rules:

Medicaid will look back 5 years at your accounts and question anything that they think is a misuse of funds or undersell of property.

A home is not an asset as long as a spouse or disabled child lives in the home.
Medicaid can allow 6 months of coverage if there is the possibility of the client returning home.

Any property sale must be, at a minimum, for the assessed value.

Do not try to hide assets, they will find it and penalize you for it.

If a spouse or disabled child remains in the home, client funds can be used to make repairs or upgrades. You should work closely with the case manager.

If the client does not have a burial plan, Medicaid allows the use of the patient's funds to pay for a pre-need burial/cremation. You can also set up a burial account in the bank - SSA and SSI recipients have different amounts allowed, but it is minimal.

Whole life insurance policies have a cash value and are counted as assets in most cases because Medicaid only allows a client to have a certain amount set aside.

A client is expected to pay all but roughtly $40.00 towards their cost of care per month if there are no other assets. The $40.00 is for personal spending.

Your best bet, if you have assets, is to consult with an elder law attorney.
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Reply to kk1346
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Assets joint w someone, get divorced. This is best route. POA , DNR don't wait on these asap.
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Reply to Denby11
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Make sure you get divorced 15 years before you need it
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Reply to Sample
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Contact an elder / trust attorney.
Work with a bookkeeper or accountant or tax preparer.
Contact Medicaid directly and ask them.

A social worker at a facility may be able to assist you.
I have a contact who specializes in this type of work (gov't benefits) although I do not know if we can provide referrals on this site.

Gena / Touch Matters
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Reply to TouchMatters
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OldArkie: Pose your question to an attorney.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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I understand everyone advice is always to get an attorney. But I bet you are asking because you can't afford the attorney. I would call medicaid directly and speak with them. Get a list of questions ready before hand. Im sure more questions will arise naturally over the course of the conversation. Be prepared to sit on hold. Usually the morning is the best time to call regardless of your state. Evening hours after people would be off if they’re day job or before going to an evening shift is the worst time of day to call. If they say they don't have an answer tell them you need a supervisor or someone from whatever department can answer your questions. If need be Tell them your not seeking any legal advice you are trying to understand how it works. I would be persistent because someone there absolutely can answer your questions and that will atleast get you started.
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Reply to Cally2024
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Della103 Jul 6, 2024
I had wonderful help with someone that works for the ADRC. She told me exactly how the spend down worked and how to document everything. It is a very paper intense procedure but needed to be done so that I had some money to live on.
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If you are married and it’s your wife who will be at need for a facility while you remain living in the home as a “Community Spouse”, the regulations on this are pretty complex plus so much of it depends on your State laws (esp for property rights) and how yiur State runs its Medicaid system. It is not a DIY and is best done by a CELA level of elder law attorney and that has as a part of their practice to do the shepherding of your wf application.

Really truly not a DIY.

just too too many moving parts for you as a spouse who is also doing caregiving duties in addition to being a husband.
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Reply to igloo572
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OldArkie Aug 29, 2024
Igloo: You have reaffirmed what I just discovered, and I found you are absolutely correct!😊
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Yes, see an aelder Lawyer well versed in Medicaid rules.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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OldArkie, do you not have an elder law attorney helping you with all of this? They should make it pretty smooth and easy for you, and they would be the best to advise you on this subject.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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