Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 20:52     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She owns a condo together with DH (both names in the deed) with outstanding mortgage. Would paying off the mortgage count as spending? Is she only allowed to pay off half of the mortgage and DH would have to pay off another half? I guess the main question is which are the legit ways to spend the money? New territory for us and I was wondering whom should we consult? Elder law or financial advisor? (OP)


Sure, she can dump all of her money into the home. And assuming DH lives there, it won't impact her immediate medicaid eligibility. But the state will recover that money from the value of the home after the surviving spouse dies.


I'm assuming DH is OP husband. That's where it gets tricky as they will put a lien on the house.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 20:43     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Republicans are about to gut Medicaid in next two months there won’t be Medicaid.

Do none of you read their plans they write it down


She's talking about long term care medicaid, which is a different program and run by each state.


Medicaid is a joint federal-state program. At least 50% of Medicaid funding in each state is federal dollars. Poorer states get higher matches. The federal government absolutely could gut Medicaid if it wanted to.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 19:19     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Consult an attorney affiliated with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Do not crowdsource, especially here. This stuff is not for amateurs or dabblers.


That was exactly my question: whom to consult. Thank you! I will look for this type of attorney.


I agree, attorney is better than a financial planner. My parents' financial planner gave them bad advice. It's just not what they usually deal with, and they didn't know what they didn't know.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 19:12     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:Republicans are about to gut Medicaid in next two months there won’t be Medicaid.

Do none of you read their plans they write it down


She's talking about long term care medicaid, which is a different program and run by each state.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 19:11     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:She owns a condo together with DH (both names in the deed) with outstanding mortgage. Would paying off the mortgage count as spending? Is she only allowed to pay off half of the mortgage and DH would have to pay off another half? I guess the main question is which are the legit ways to spend the money? New territory for us and I was wondering whom should we consult? Elder law or financial advisor? (OP)


Talk to long-term care Medicaid. It will get complicated if the husband owns half but spends it down. There are specific things. Get her lot of clothing, bedding, etc for the nursing home, prepay for her funeral, etc. You don't need an attorney. The rules are also online.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 19:07     Subject: Medicaid planning
Republicans are about to gut Medicaid in next two months there won’t be Medicaid.

Do none of you read their plans they write it down
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 19:05     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:Consult an attorney affiliated with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Do not crowdsource, especially here. This stuff is not for amateurs or dabblers.


That was exactly my question: whom to consult. Thank you! I will look for this type of attorney.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 19:04     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She owns a condo together with DH (both names in the deed) with outstanding mortgage. Would paying off the mortgage count as spending? Is she only allowed to pay off half of the mortgage and DH would have to pay off another half? I guess the main question is which are the legit ways to spend the money? New territory for us and I was wondering whom should we consult? Elder law or financial advisor? (OP)


Sure, she can dump all of her money into the home. And assuming DH lives there, it won't impact her immediate medicaid eligibility. But the state will recover that money from the value of the home after the surviving spouse dies.



Thanks for your reply!

1) DH does not live there
2) She is a widow

Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 18:02     Subject: Medicaid planning
Consult an attorney affiliated with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Do not crowdsource, especially here. This stuff is not for amateurs or dabblers.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 17:56     Subject: Medicaid planning
Anonymous wrote:She owns a condo together with DH (both names in the deed) with outstanding mortgage. Would paying off the mortgage count as spending? Is she only allowed to pay off half of the mortgage and DH would have to pay off another half? I guess the main question is which are the legit ways to spend the money? New territory for us and I was wondering whom should we consult? Elder law or financial advisor? (OP)


Sure, she can dump all of her money into the home. And assuming DH lives there, it won't impact her immediate medicaid eligibility. But the state will recover that money from the value of the home after the surviving spouse dies.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 17:50     Subject: Medicaid planning
She owns a condo together with DH (both names in the deed) with outstanding mortgage. Would paying off the mortgage count as spending? Is she only allowed to pay off half of the mortgage and DH would have to pay off another half? I guess the main question is which are the legit ways to spend the money? New territory for us and I was wondering whom should we consult? Elder law or financial advisor? (OP)
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 17:08     Subject: Medicaid planning
Have to spend it.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 16:55     Subject: Medicaid planning
The look-back period is 5 years. You might be too late.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 16:29     Subject: Medicaid planning
*her income qualifies for medicaid
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2025 16:29     Subject: Medicaid planning
MIL’s qualifies but she has about $70k of assets (her lifetime savings). Whom should we consult on how to protect/spend down: elder care lawyer or financial advisor? TIA