Medicaid Penalty Period

Do I have to wait 60 months?

Many people believe that if you give your assets away, you must wait 60 months to qualify for Medicaid. This is not the case. The 60 month requirement only applies to the financial disclosure you must provide, not eligibility.

Think of it this way: When you go to apply for Medicaid, imagine you’re bringing a box with you. In that box is every financial transaction you’ve made for the previous 60 months. That is all you need to provide – if you made a transaction 61 months ago, it’s not in the box. So 60 months is just the size of the “box”…it’s that simple.

However, this has nothing to do with determining your qualification for Medicaid. It is what Medicaid sees in the “box” that determines whether you will qualify. If you make the proper planning decisions, you may qualify immediately even if the “box” contains information that might otherwise make you ineligible for Medicaid.

This 60 month period is what is referred to as the Medicaid “look back period.” With appropriate planning and expert assistance, you can give yourself the best opportunity to qualify for Medicaid coverage when you need it.

LOOK-BACK EXCEPTIONS
You can make certain asset transfers without negatively affecting your prospects for timely Medicaid qualification. These include transfers to:

A spouse
A child who is blind or disabled
Trusts that benefit a blind or disabled child
Trusts that solely benefit a disabled person under the age of 65 (in some cases, the recipient)

Our Medicaid Crisis Attorneys Provide Guidance During Uncertain Times

No crisis or situation is too big or too small for our Grand Rapids Medicaid crisis team. If you and your family are worried about the future because of an injury that occurred to your elderly loved one, our firm stands ready to advise you of your options and help you in selecting the most appropriate course of action.

An Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

Our law firm is one of the most experienced estate planning law firms in the country, with more than 34 years’ background helping clients in Michigan. In fact, our firm has assisted more than 10,000 families with their planning needs, resulting in millions of dollars of life savings and assets protected.

Our Attorneys are Experienced with all types of Medicaid Crisis Situations

Let our firm resolve your crisis or question and help you regain control of your life during this time. We have nearly three decades of experience in helping Michigan families apply for and obtain Medicaid benefits under a variety of circumstances, and we can help you, too.

1-800-317-2812