Elder Law Services

Finding out that a parent, spouse, or relative will require long-term care at a nursing home or similar type of facility can be stressful, especially when financial resources are limited. Nursing homes can be notoriously expensive, costing several thousand dollars per week and potentially draining the assets you or your loved one worked so hard to build. A feasible alternative for many is to resort to Medicaid benefits to cover the costs of long-term care, but it is important to understand how Medicaid works and how your loved one’s assets may still be on the line without proper plans to protect them.

Because Medicaid is not self-funding, recipients of Medicaid benefits may be required to repay the government for the benefits they receive. With a few exceptions, any property or asset that is considered part of the decedent’s estate may be subject to estate recovery. This means that if you or a loved one received Medicaid benefits, the Commonwealth might use any asset in your estate (or your loved one’s estate) as a repayment for the costs of care.

If you or someone in your family needs to apply for Medicaid, a Rosemont Elder Law attorney can be an essential advocate to help you navigate the application process and be accepted. In addition, an attorney can help you understand the ever-changing Medicaid rules and requirements, including key details about the 5 year look-back, the application process and the estate recovery program.