Answered a question 1/31/2012 at 10:22 am
Look up your state's rules regarding Medicaid This is what I found:
"Estate Recovery allows SRS and Medicaid to recover medical care costs from the estates of recipients who, prior to their death
...Read MoreLook up your state's rules regarding Medicaid This is what I found:
"Estate Recovery allows SRS and Medicaid to recover medical care costs from the estates of recipients who, prior to their death were 55 years of age or older, resided in a nursing facility or received Medicaid-funded HCBS services; and/or did not have a spouse, children under 21, or disabled dependents. A person's estate includes the home, savings, or other assets remaining upon death. No lien will be placed upon property while the recipient or spouse is living, but a claim may be filed on the estate upon the death of both the recipient and spouse. All medical expenses paid by SRS may be included in the claim."
I would not jeopardize your home. Besides a funeral trust, other appropriate expenses include dentures, hearing aids, glasses and depending on her needs, assisting devices like wheel chairs, tub lift... They will look back and want to know where the money went. Spending down is just that, spending her money on her needs until she qualifies for medicaid.