Q: Once I qualify for Medicaid, will the quality of care I receive be sub-standard?A: No. It is illegal for a facility to discriminate against someone receiving Medicaid benefits. By law, Medicaid patients are to receive the same level of care as private-pay residents.

Q: Is a married couple always required to spend down one-half of their assets before qualifying for Medicaid?

A: Not always. In fact, quite often couples have over $100,000 and qualify for Medicaid benefits without spending a penny. Although there are income and asset criteria a couple must meet before one of them qualifies for benefits, federal and state laws were written to protect individuals from becoming impoverished if their spouse needs a nursing home.

Medicaid planning is like tax planning in that legislation has provided legal exceptions to the general rules that, with good advice from a knowledgeable professional, can save Medicaid applicants and their families thousands of dollars.

Q: Is it true that under current Medicaid laws, a parent cannot make financial gifts to their children once they have entered the nursing home?

A: No. In fact, a proper gifting program is a great Medicaid planning technique. At the time an applicant applies for Medicaid, the state will “look back” three years to see if any gifts have been made. Any financial gifts or transfers for less than fair market value during the three year look back period may cause a delay in an applicant’s eligibility. A proper gifting program requires calculating the penalties prior to making gifts.

Q: Is $13,000 per year the maximum an individual can give away if they are going to apply for Medicaid?

A: No. The $13,000 per year gift people ask about when discussing Medicaid Planning is a tax law figure and not relevant with respect to Medicaid’s specific asset transfer rules. The maximum monetary figure Medicaid applicants need concern themselves with is the “penalty period”: for their state. In Connecticut the penalty period is 5 years.

Q: A Medicaid applicant’s house is considered “exempt” under Medicaid laws. Can an applicant give away their house without incurring penalties?

A: No. Any assets which are given away, whether they be personal property or real property, are considered gifts. If an applicant gives their house away, the state will assess a penalty based on the fair market value of the house at the time it was transferred.

Q: Once my spouse is approved for Medicaid, can I gift my assets away?

A: It depends on your state’s laws. Currently in Connecticut, once the “institutionalized” spouse has been approved for Medicaid, the “community” spouse’s assets are no longer a part of the ongoing eligibility and therefore the community spouse could make gifts of their assets. In Connecticut, however, any gifts of real estate made by the community spouse would incur a penalty which may result in the termination of Medicaid benefits for their spouse.

There are a number of steps a Medicaid applicant can take to preserve their assets, ranging from gifting strategies, to personal care contracts, to raising the Community Spouse Resource Allowance to name a few. What you need to remember is that the laws are constantly changing and the planning your neighbor did for their mother six months ago may not be proper for your mother tomorrow. Consult a knowledgeable Elder Law Attorney for advice.