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Jeffrey18914 Asked November 17, 2025

Spend down incapacitated adult car purchase.

lealonnie1 Nov 22, 2025
Why are folks trying to answer a question in the form of a header that makes no sense, and one that the OP hasn't bothered to come back and clarify????
CaringWifeAZ Nov 23, 2025
Lol lealonnie.
Some people are not good with words.
I think some of us recognize that and we're trying anyway!
I have an aunt who cannot write a complete sentence that makes sense.
I try anyway. Because I love her and I know she is a very sweet woman, but she can't write a sentence.
CaringWifeAZ Nov 22, 2025
what?

For medicaid approval, the recipient can typically have a vehicle which they use for transportation. What should be reported to Medicaid is the value of the car, (an asset), and any amount owed on the car, ( a liability).

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MargaretMcKen Nov 18, 2025
If you want the car to drive yourself, and only occasionally to transport the incapacitated person, be ready to be challenged by Medicaid.

JoAnn29 Nov 18, 2025
If you want to spend down with a car purchase, why not use that money for their care. My Mom had 20k. I placed her into a LTC facility that took Medicaid. That 20k paid for 2 months of private pay. In that two months I applied for Medicaid. She paid May and June. I proved she was spent down and confirmed they had info needed and Medicaid started July 1st.

Geaton777 Nov 17, 2025
I think a lot depends on whether you are that incapacitated adult's FPoA...

Also, how much is the spend down? Cars are not good investments and keep losing value. For about $3600-ish you could buy that person a pre-paid funeral/cremation policy.

Or, that adult goes into a good facility on private pay until their money is close to running out then apply for Medicaid (but the facility has to accept Medicaid recipients).

AlvaDeer Nov 17, 2025
Who would want to buy an incapacitated car?

Jeffrey, I suspect you are asking us if an incapacitated person can purchase a vehicle as part of their spenddown. If the "cause of incapacitation " is not dementia, and if it doesn't preclude ability to drive, and this person is driving and requires a new car, then yes, someone incapacitated in some wise may be capable of owning and driving a car, and certainly can buy themselves a car.

"Incapacitation" is a "debility". Meaning in some way a person cannot function. So if this elder is still perfectly capable of driving and wants a new car, then he can get one. Many who are in elder care facility for some reason or another, especially in ALF, do have a car.

If you are able to give us more information we can likely give you better guidance. One phrase just doesn't do it. I can, however, wish you the best of luck with your issue, and I DO.
CaringWifeAZ Nov 22, 2025
It may be a spouse, or family member who lives with the incapacitated adult, who is actually doing the driving, but to be used for transportation for the medicaid recipient. In Home and Community Based Services, the patient may be receiving care in their home, and require a means of transportation.
Patathome01 Nov 17, 2025
What incapacity is it?

lealonnie1 Nov 17, 2025
What does this mean??

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