Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
Protect your assets while qualifying for long-term care benefits
Planning for Long-Term Care in Michigan
Long-term care—whether at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing home—is one of the most significant financial risks facing Michigan seniors. With nursing home costs exceeding $100,000 per year, even substantial savings can be depleted rapidly without proper planning.
Elder law and Medicaid planning involves strategies to protect your assets, ensure quality care, and qualify for government benefits (primarily Medicaid) to help cover long-term care costs. Proper planning, ideally done well before care is needed, can preserve your life savings for your spouse and heirs while ensuring you receive the care you need.
Elder Law Services We Provide
Medicaid Planning & Qualification
Strategic planning to help you qualify for Michigan Medicaid while protecting assets for your spouse and family within legal guidelines.
Asset Protection for Long-Term Care
Use of irrevocable trusts, strategic transfers, and other legal tools to shield assets from nursing home spend-down requirements.
Spousal Protection Strategies
Ensure the healthy spouse can maintain financial security and quality of life while the other spouse receives long-term care.
Veterans Benefits (Aid & Attendance)
Help eligible veterans and surviving spouses obtain VA pension benefits to help pay for long-term care costs.
Special Needs Trusts
Provide for disabled beneficiaries without jeopardizing their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits.
Guardianship & Conservatorship
Assist families in obtaining court authority to make decisions for incapacitated loved ones who lack proper planning documents.
Understanding Michigan Medicaid for Long-Term Care
What Medicaid Covers
Michigan Medicaid pays for nursing home care and certain home-based and community services for those who qualify financially and medically. Unlike Medicare, which has limited coverage for short-term skilled care, Medicaid covers long-term custodial care.
Medicaid Eligibility
To qualify for Michigan Medicaid, you must meet both medical and financial criteria:
- • Medical: Require nursing home level of care as certified by a physician
- • Financial: Limited income and countable assets (generally $2,000 for individual, higher for married couples)
- • Certain assets are exempt: primary residence (with limits), one vehicle, personal belongings, prepaid burial
The 5-Year Look-Back Period
Michigan Medicaid examines all asset transfers made within 5 years of your application. Transfers for less than fair value can result in periods of ineligibility. Proper planning well in advance, using legally compliant strategies, is essential to avoid penalties.
Crisis Planning
Even if you need nursing home care immediately, there are still legal strategies available to protect some assets and accelerate Medicaid eligibility. While advance planning is preferable, crisis planning can still provide significant benefits.
Protecting Your Home
For many Michigan families, the family home is their most valuable asset. Michigan Medicaid rules provide some protection for your home while you're receiving care, but after your death, the state may seek recovery from your estate (including your home) for care costs paid.
Strategies to Protect Your Home
- • Irrevocable trusts (must be established well before needing care)
- • Life estate deeds
- • Spousal protections for married couples
- • Exceptions for disabled children or caregiving children
Important: These strategies have strict timing and compliance requirements under Michigan law. Professional guidance is essential to implement them correctly.
When Should You Start Planning?
Ideally, planning should begin:
Don't wait: The 5-year look-back period means that strategies implemented today may not provide benefits for years. The sooner you plan, the more options you have.
Plan for Long-Term Care Today
Schedule a consultation to discuss Medicaid planning and elder law strategies.
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