Continued Medicaid eligibility?

Do you have a pre-need funeral trust set up? That is a legitimate use of your accumulated assets.

Do you need dental work, even just more frequent cleanings? An extra pair of glasses? Prescription sunglasses? A new winter coat? Better boots? A couple of new shirts? Some kitchen gadgets that will make cooking easier?

Please don't believe you can't give your family birthday or Christmas presents. For that 5 year look back, Medicaid is generally going to look at large asset transfers and withdrawals. You can go on vacation, you can go out to dinner, you can buy things you need, and yes, you can buy presents. Medicaid will look for unusual large withdrawals that stand out and question them. You can buy all your funeral arrangements. If you have any doubt, consult an attorney. There are some who do a free consultation.

You mention monthly income and if that’s correct and you want Medicaid health insurance, everyone here has misread your post. This isn’t about the the 5 year lookback and long term care. If your monthly income is over the limit for Medicaid then you CANNOT spend the excess income as you please, you cannot give the money away. You spend it down on your health care. It’s called a medically needy pathway. You can spend down your excess income on medication, insurance premiums, medical supplies, etc.

BarbBrooklyn's suggestion of a pre-paid funeral is a great one: pre-Medicaid you can preserve thousands for this purpose and cover expenses like travel that relates to your funeral, food, gravestone, funeral home costs, etc. Post-Medicaid the allowed amount for a pre-paid funeral decreases significantly, down to about $1500 (may differ for each state) for only certain expenses. Regarding birthday and holiday gifts: don't write checks directly to your LOs (give them cash or material things from bought from stores). Do things for yourself while you still can, like traveling and things that bring you better health and joy. Blessings to you!

You could set up a Miller Trust and designate a monthly amount that would be transferred each month from your checking account to the Trust. Any funds in the trust at your death would then go to Medicaid.

Consult with an elder law attorney. That will be money well spent. They will guide you through the confusing path and help protect your assets. It is really tough for a lay person to do this on their own.

Here's a link that might help you: https://www.elderlawanswers.com/spending-down-assets-to-qualify-for-medicaid-12003

Spend money on anything for your benefit. No gifting of money.

Use your money for facility rents until you are spent down.

you can pre pay your funeral. as I understand it you can do any improvements to your house. You can not give money away in large amounts. monthly income is what they look for

I wonder why such information isn't published plainly for people in each state to read. I realize situations can be difficult and require professional help, such as from a lawyer, but many questions should be able to be answered quite simply without the need for a lawyer. Perhaps it IS done this way in some states--if so, the others should follow the example.