Can Medicare take money from a joint account if the money is not the deceased?

I've never heard of medicare going after someone's money. Are you sure you are not talking about his social security checks or medicaid which does go after money?

no I put my father on my CD as a cosigner ( i trust him!!!) If I was injured on the job and was in the hospital he has access to my money so he could pay my bills..

Thanks. for your answer.. has anybody else had or heard of this.. we do it in out family and I have my two sisters on my other accounts.. I am single and if something happens to me they can use this money to pay my expense

I think you are talking about Medicaid - it is important to keep money separated rather than co-mingling. If he shows as co-owner then they are going to assume it is his money. You might have quite a nuisance proving that it is all really yours. Is it really necessary to make someone else a co-owner? Wouldn't it be simpler to go to the bank and ask them to work with you to give father, sisters, etc. some access short of co-ownership? Like POA?

Yes, in case I was injured he had access to the money to pay the hospital bills,etc.

You may want to talk to an attorney