Q. My 86-year-old mother is in a nursing home and receives a Medi-Cal subsidy. We just learned that her brother died and left her $200,000 in his trust. Will the receipt of this inheritance bounce mom off of Medi-Cal? Is there anything we can do? A. The answer to your first question is easy: yes,… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Medi-Cal Planning
An Approach to Handling Legal Affairs When Your Spouse Can’t Sign
Q. My husband suffers from dementia and we have significant expenses for care in the home. In order to help with these expenses, I have been thinking about selling our vacation property which we no longer use or cashing in one of his annuities. I would also like to set up a Living Trust and… Read More »
Will Medi-Cal Count Dad’s Assets Even Though They Cannot Be Accessed Due To His Dementia?
Q. Our father is 90 years old and is being cared for in a nursing home, which costs about $10,500 per month. We need to apply for a Medi-Cal subsidy to help with the cost, but Dad has an old insurance policy with accumulated cash value which puts him over the $2,000 Medi-Cal resource ceiling… Read More »
Do I Need to Cash in My Annuities If I Go Into a Nursing Home?
Q. I have three annuities. If my wife or I need to go into a nursing home, do we need to cash them in to be eligible for a Medi-Cal subsidy? A. Well, like many things in life, it all depends. If your annuities are held inside an IRA owned by you or your wife,… Read More »
Is There A Downside to Gifting My Home To My Son Now?
Q. I am thinking about just gifting my home to my son now, in order to minimize estate administration after I’m gone. Of course, I would continue to live here as long as possible. Do you see any downside to this plan? A. Yes, there may be a big one, depending upon how you do… Read More »
Purchasing A Home With Your Parent To Provide Care
Q. My 88 year old father still lives in his own home, alone. We worry about him falling and injuring himself. My husband and I have suggested that we sell both of our homes, and together purchase a larger home for all of us. He is on Medi-Cal and we wonder whether he could retain… Read More »
Will A Reverse Mortgage Prevent Medi-Cal Qualification?
Q. My wife and I have a Reverse Mortgage on our home. We have already pulled out about $100K on our loan and have another $150K available. If one of us needs nursing home care, will our Reverse Mortgage prevent us from seeking a Medi-Cal subsidy to help with the cost of that care? A. … Read More »
Can I Use Father’s POA To Make Gifts To Accelerate His Eligibility for Medi-Cal?
Q. My father suffers from advanced dementia and needs care in a nursing home. It costs about $9,500 per month, and we are rapidly spending down his savings. I was told that he might qualify for a Medi-Cal subsidy to help with the cost once his savings are below $2,000. Years ago he signed a… Read More »
Using ‘Unavailability’ As a Medi-Cal Spend Down Strategy
Q. I need to qualify my mother for a Medi-Cal subsidy to help pay for her nursing home care, due to her progressive dementia. However, she has about $20,000 in a bank account with just her name on it, and no power of attorney in place to allow me to draw upon it. I was… Read More »
Why Amending A Trust Isn’t Always A Simple Task
Q. My late wife and I set up a trust about 10 years ago, and now I want to change the Successor Trustee and remove a beneficiary. Is that a simple thing to do? A. Like so many things in life, it depends. Here are some of the considerations: Is It Amendable? Not all trusts… Read More »