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Medicaid Asset Recovery (Michigan)

Posted on: 12th Nov, 2008 11:36 pm
This is a "what if" question, since the elderly person does not (yet) get Medicaid. Situation: the senior citizen mother has few assets (Social Security) and a house. The house is held in trust (a living revocable trust, signed 20 years ago) for two adult children. If the mother eventually gets Medicaid (while in a nursing home) and then passes on, can the state of Michigan go after the house? The Michigan Asset Recovery Act is limited to "probated assets", and the estate will not be probated. I see several elderlaw sites online that state that property in trust is non-recoverable, but others say it is...and some even state that the person would not be eligible for Medicare with a house held by a trust!
Hi Alphazip!

As far as I know, in Michigan only those estates that are probated can be recovered (even you have mentioned that). So as the property is already in a trust and will not be probated, then estate recovery will not be initiated by Medicaid.

For further information on estate recovery in Michigan, you can go through this website:
http://www.mplp.org/Resources/mplp_ns_wntr_2008/elder1.htm

Thanks
Posted on: 13th Nov, 2008 03:32 am
Thanks Niicss! I guess my only question now is whether the trust causes any problem with getting Medicaid in the first place. On the app, would she list the house as an asset or say that it's owned by a trust? I wouldn't want to raise any red flags in qualifying.
Posted on: 13th Nov, 2008 12:17 pm
Here's what I'm concerned about. The State of Michigan Long Term Care page says:

"A trust may be a sound decision for probate law, but trusts in Medicaid law may make an otherwise exempt asset (like a homestead) countable and will generally not protect otherwise countable assets. Additionally, the lookback period for trusts when figuring divestment and penalties is generally 5 years."

It sounds like having a home in trust will prevent a person from qualifying for Medicaid, so they would have to remove it from the trust to make it exempt.
Posted on: 13th Nov, 2008 12:55 pm
Hi Alphazip!

Yes, there is a concept of look-back period in Medicaid. Transfers of countable assets during the look-back period will lead in a waiting period before you can start to collect Medicaid. If any such transfers have happened in your case or will be happening, then you will have to wait for a longer period of time to get the benefits of medicaid.

Thanks
Posted on: 13th Nov, 2008 10:06 pm
94 year old mother in law movedinto our home who needs 24/7 care. Can we use some of her money to expand our home to accommodate her stay and not have to worry about any Medicaid recovery in the event she ever has to collect. She owns no home. Just don't want to move forward and use her money and then be responsible to pay any back after her assests are depleted by Medicaid. At age 94, odds are good that she will end up in a nursing home. Hope you can help me out here in Northern Michigan.
Posted on: 04th May, 2009 02:31 pm
Hi Bob,

I don't think you will be responsible to pay back the money in case of medicaid estate recovery if you use it for your mother-in-law's benefit. However, to be on the safer side, it would be better if you could consult an attorney and take his opinion in this regard.

Thanks
Posted on: 05th May, 2009 12:49 am
What if an elderly parent and her child own real estate property together and the parent eventually gets Medicaid while being cared for in a nursing home. When elderly parent dies can the State of Michigan go after the property?
Posted on: 30th Sep, 2010 06:51 am
Hi r.r.r.,

The State of Michigan can go after the property in order to recover the Medicaid dues. The state will sell off the property and give you your share of the money. The rest of the amount will be used to pay off the Medicaid dues.

Thanks
Posted on: 30th Sep, 2010 10:01 pm
I receive medicaid here in ny but if I want to move home to mi. will I still be able to have medicaid?
Posted on: 18th Mar, 2011 04:29 pm
Though you move from one state to another, I don't think you'll face any problems in getting Medicaid.
Posted on: 20th Mar, 2011 10:36 pm
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