If I'm paying the insurance, taxes and upkeep will that be returned to me when my Mom passes before Medicaid get money back?

Keep careful records of those expenses. The property is only exempt until it is sold, or she dies. After her death MERP will recover any Medicaid payments from her estate. You will need proof of those expenses so the estate can pay you back.

Do a title search on the property. There may already be a lien on it from Medicaid.

theresahenson, is anyone still living in the house? If the answer is *no*, the home insurance company needs to be notified that the house is vacant, which means higher premiums for you to pay... if they aren't notified and there is some future damage, the insurance company might not pay. If the house is empty you need to have the house *winterized*.