Author: Mark Easley

Are there Assets that can Disqualify an Applicant from Medicaid Eligibility? The simple answer is an unequivocal “No.” There are no specific assets that can disqualify an applicant from Medicaid eligibility. There are, however, assets that many families overlook when determining whether or not a Medicaid application will be approved. That is the essence of […]

Clients often ask about “Remainder Interests,” and how they affect the Medicaid process. Can remainder interests be recovered by the Medicaid program after the death of a nursing home Medicaid recipient? The answer depends upon the circumstances and upon the type of remainder interest involved. And there are a variety of interests under the law. […]

What is the Medicaid Penalty Period? Clients often ask: What is the Medicaid Penalty Period I have heard about? Will my family member need to wait before he or she can enter long-term care in a nursing home? These questions concern families. Fortunately, in almost all cases, there is no period of ineligibility for a […]

What is the Medicaid Look-Back Period? Clients often ask: What is the Medicaid Look-Back Period I have heard about? The Medicaid Look-Back Period is the amount of time, previous to a Medicaid application, during which the Medicaid applicant cannot make any gifts to others. The Medicaid authority does not allow a Medicaid recipient to “give […]

What Assets are Exempt from Medicaid Spend Down? In order to smoothly move toward Medicaid eligibility, it is important to identify which assets are subject to the Medicaid spend down process, and are considered countable assets, and which assets are exempt assets from such consideration. Loved ones and family members would be advised to analyze […]

Are Prepaid Funeral Arrangements Exempt Assets for purposes of Medicaid Planning? Yes, funeral expenses are typically exempt assets for purposes of Long-Term Care Medicaid Spend Down, but only if done in a particularized way that complies with state regulation. In Missouri, effective August 28, 2009, participants have four options for pre-need burial contracts. Most funeral […]