Demystifying Medicaid: Myths & Realities

A family recently came into our law office and said they were reluctantly expecting to move Dad to a nursing home soon. But they thought getting him on Medicaid was impossible because they had transferred assets to a trust within the past five years.

While this family is compassionate and savvy about seeking legal support for the process, this example demonstrates a common Medicaid myth: you can’t qualify for Medicaid because of something called the “five year look back.”

It’s just one of the Medicaid Myths we busted on Life Happens Radio, Saturday, August 10th. Estate planning attorneys Aaron Connor and Frank Hemming demystified this Federal program for long-term care.

 Aaron and Frank discussed these myths:

• You don’t need an attorney to get Medicaid

• If you go on Medicaid, they government or nursing home will take everything that’s left

• It’s better to get divorced for Medicaid purposes