Medicaid Planning
& Asset Protection
Nursing-home costs, the family home, a spouse who lives at home, and Medicaid eligibility.
This site covers Medicaid planning for long-term care: nursing-home eligibility, spend-down, the family home, protections for a spouse who stays at home, trusts and transfers, applications, denials and appeals, and estate recovery. Rules differ from state to state, so start with yours.
Discuss Your Options
Tell us briefly about your family’s situation.
Long-term care can change a family’s financial picture very quickly.
Perhaps a parent may need nursing-home care. A spouse’s health has declined. Private-pay costs are drawing down savings, or you’re worried about what happens to the house. The rules can feel confusing, especially when someone has already entered a facility, an application has been denied, or estate recovery is on the horizon.
You do not have to begin with all the answers. Begin with the questions that fit your family’s situation.
Understand your optionsWhere Are You Right Now?
The most useful next step depends on your state, family situation, timing, assets, income, and care status.
- 01Planning aheadI want to protect assets before long-term care is needed.Medicaid Planning · Asset Protection · Medicaid Trusts · Look-Back Rules
- 02Care may be needed soonA parent or spouse may need nursing-home care soon.Eligibility · Countable Assets · Spousal Protections · Spend-Down
- 03Already in a nursing homeMy parent or spouse is already receiving care.Crisis Planning · Spend-Down · Eligibility · Medicaid Applications
- 04Worried about the houseI want to understand what happens to the family home.The Family Home · Exempt Assets · Transfers · Estate Recovery
- 05Protecting a spouseOne spouse needs care and the other lives independently.Community Spouse · CSRA · MMMNA · Spousal Protections
- 06Application problemMedicaid was denied or there is an eligibility problem.Medicaid Applications · Denials · Appeals · Fair Hearings
- 07After death / estate recoveryWe received an estate recovery notice or are concerned about recovery.Estate Recovery · Liens · Hardship Waivers · The Family Home
What Are You Trying to Protect?
There is rarely one rule for every family. Explore the questions behind each asset, relationship, and care decision.
Your home
Treatment of a primary residence can depend on equity, occupancy, family circumstances, transfers, and estate recovery.
Explore this topic 02Your spouse
Married couples may have specific protections involving assets and income.
Explore this topic 03Your savings
Understand countable and exempt assets, planning options, and spend-down.
Explore this topic 04Your retirement
Treatment can differ by account type, state, and circumstances.
Explore this topic 05Your family’s inheritance
Timing, trusts, transfers, and estate recovery can all matter.
Explore this topic 06Your ability to pay for care
Explore eligibility concepts and long-term-care planning before deciding what comes next.
Explore this topicPlanning is connected.
Browse the major topics, then follow the details relevant to your situation.
- 01 / THE GUIDE
Medicaid Planning
Planning for long-term-care costs, and when to involve an attorney.
- 02 / THE GUIDE
Crisis & Nursing Home
When care is needed now or soon, or a parent or spouse has already moved into a nursing home.
- 03 / THE GUIDE
Assets & Spend-Down
Countable and exempt assets, spend-down, and accounts such as IRAs, annuities and life insurance.
- 04 / THE GUIDE
Married Couples
When one spouse needs care and the other lives at home.
- 05 / THE GUIDE
Trusts & Transfers
Trusts, gifts, transfers and the look-back review.
- 06 / THE GUIDE
Applications & Appeals
Applying for Medicaid, a denial, and appealing a decision.
- 07 / THE GUIDE
Estate Recovery
The family home, liens, and recovery after death.
Make decisions with more clarity.
Tell us a little about your family’s situation and the questions you’re facing.
Discuss Your Medicaid & Nursing Home Asset Protection OptionsDiscuss Your Options
Tell us briefly about your family’s situation.