Seattle Medicaid and Long-Term Care Planning Attorney

We know how daunting it can be to think about Medicaid and Long-Term Care planning. Nursing home costs can be devastating, often costing over $144,000 each year. As a Seattle Medicaid planning attorney, ELG Estate Planning founder Lynn St. Louis has written a book on this very topic for Washington residents: How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs.

Planning protects seniors and their families by educating them on their options and how to use government benefits, such as Medicaid to pay for Long-Term Care. Liquidating all of the assets that you have worked so hard to accumulate isn’t necessary. You have options that allow you – or your loved ones – to:

Receive quality care
Preserve assets

At our firm, we know that one of the biggest threats to a person’s or family’s financial security is Long-Term Care costs.

Since 2006, we’ve helped families across Washington take charge of their Medicaid and Long-Term Care planning, preserving their assets and qualifying for Medicaid Long-Term Care benefits. If you or a loved one are facing Long-Term Care, either now or likely in the future, we can help.

Schedule an appointment with us at one of our convenient locations in Seattle, Spokane, or the Tri-Cities.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at our ELG Estate Planning Seattle office and meet the incredible team behind the work. From your first consultation to finalizing your plan, we’re here to provide thoughtful guidance every step of the way.

What is Long-Term Care Planning?

Only one-third of people 65 years old today will never need Long-Term Care, meaning two-thirds of people over 65% will need care. Approximately 20% of people will spend 5+ years in Long-Term Care, which is a financially devastating prospect for most families.

The National Institute of Aging states that Long-Term Care:

Includes numerous services
Meets a person’s care and physical needs
Is required when a person can no longer meet these needs on their own

You may still be able to perform most of your care on your own, or you may need more extensive care like a nursing home provides. As a Seattle Medicaid planning attorney, we want you to know your options and understand care costs so that you can plan for the future.

Even if you never need care, a robust plan provides peace of mind knowing that assets can be protected, no matter what happens in the future.

Rising costs of Long-Term Care:

At-home care: $27.67 – $37.75 an hour
Assisted living: $5,051 per month on average; memory care is $6,900+ a month
Nursing home costs: private pay rate of $144,000 plus

Facility costs continue to rise. Paying for this care is a financial burden that many families face, and many cannot afford. Medicaid planning by your Seattle Long-Term Care planning lawyer can help.

How Does Medicaid Help with the Costs of Long-Term Care?

Medicaid laws are confusing, complex, and ever-changing at a time when you or your loved one needs care the most.

You’ll need to meet certain

Medical requirements
Income requirements
Asset requirements

Medicaid Asset Preservation Strategies® for Long-Term Care planning can help families keep well beyond Medicaid’s asset rules. Estate recovery can be avoided, especially where a couple is involved.

What Is Medicaid Planning?

Medicaid planning is a complex area of elder law, uses Medicaid’s rules to preserve assets and qualify for Long-Term Care benefits to pay for Long-Term Care. You must meet certain criteria, which change annually, to qualify for Long-Term Care under Medicaid. A Seattle Long-Term Care planning lawyer can help you understand the criteria.

Planning helps you:

Qualify for Medicaid Long-Term Care
Retain some or all of your assets

Spending $144,000 a year on nursing home care can quickly deplete your assets. Medicaid planning will help you become eligible for care without spending all of your assets in the process.

What Is the Medicaid Five-Year Lookback Period?

Medicaid has a lookback period of five years, which means the Medicaid agency they will look back five years from your application date to see if you:

Gifted assets
Transferred assets (without compensation)

If you gift or transfer assets (not sell for fair market value), a penalty period is imposed that pushes back your eligibility to receive Medicaid Long-Term Care. For example, a one-month penalty for each $11,899 dollar will be assessed.

For example, a gift of $118,990 will result in a 10-month penalty period.

Not all gifts are penalized. For example, there is no gifting penalty between spouses. That is because the Medicaid agency looks at assets of both spouses, and counts them regardless of whose name is on title.

Exceptions apply to gifting prohibitions. We understand Medicaid’s rules and use them to avoid the penalty period where possible.

And when no exceptions apply, a gifting strategy at time of need may be available to protect assets. Gifting should never be entered into without the advice of a Medicaid planning attorney standing behind the gifting plan.

What are Medicaid Asset Preservation Strategies (MAPS)®?

Medicaid Asset Preservation Strategies®, or MAPS®, can help you protect your assets while qualifying for the benefits and care you need.

We can assist clients with implementing MAPS® that help them achieve their goals, including:

Spend down strategies, which can include purchasing medical devices that aren’t covered by insurance, paying off accrued debt, modifying your home to make it more accessible and safer, purchasing Medicaid-compliant annuities, and other strategies.

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, which will transfer ownership of assets to the trust. The look-back period will apply.

As your Seattle Medicaid planning attorney, we’re here to help you protect your estate and become eligible for Long-Term Care with the help of MAPS®.

What Can a Medicaid Planning Attorney Do for Me and My Family?

Medicaid laws are complex and constantly evolving. Proper planning will give you and your family peace of mind, but even as an informed individual, it can be challenging to stay on top of changes and implement the right planning strategies.

A Seattle Medicaid planning attorney is well-versed in Seattle elder law, Medicaid law, and Seattle estate planning. They can help you and your family:

Prepare for the Future

One of the most important things a Seattle Medicaid planning attorney can do for you and your family is to prepare for the future.

Life is unpredictable, but your attorney can help you prepare for the unexpected by:

Planning for Long-Term Care now while you’re still healthy
Preparing documents to qualify for Long-Term Care benefits
Implementing strategies to avoid the state’s lien on assets for Medicaid benefits

Taking steps now to prepare for your Medicaid and Long-Term Care needs will make it easier and less stressful to obtain the care you need in the future.

Meet Medicaid Income and Asset Limits

Medicaid’s income and asset limits are an intrinsic part of the Medicaid application process. Fortunately, there are many planning techniques an attorney can use to achieve eligibility while preserving your assets.

Medicaid Asset Preservation Strategies® is a highly focused area of law that requires the experience, skills and Medicaid knowledge.

A qualified attorney can:

Implement effective strategies to preserve your assets without compromising the quality of the care you receive.

Help you avoid the State’s lien on assets for the benefits you receive.

Medicaid recipients are permitted to retain their home, automobile, household furnishings and a select few other assets. Your attorney can discuss your options for retaining other assets that fall outside of this protected category.

Provide Guidance and Support

An attorney can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the planning process. Along with answering questions, they will explain your options and advise you on how to achieve your goals.

How To Choose the Best Medicaid Planning Attorney for Your Needs

There are several factors to consider when choosing a Seattle Medicaid planning attorney, including:

Experience with Medicaid planning, elder law and estate planning. An attorney who focuses on these complex, nuanced areas of law will know which planning techniques to use for your individual goals. They will understand the challenges that may arise and how to overcome them.
Communication and client relationships. Is the attorney available to answer questions? Do they take a client-centric approach to their service? Working with an attorney who is passionate about helping clients will provide a higher level of service and care.

At ELG Estate Planning, we understand that Medicaid planning is complicated. We help our clients understand their options and guide them through every step to ensure they receive the high-quality care they need while protecting their family’s future.

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