Medicaid Asset Protection

Aus Salespoint

As tax preparation time begins, many seniors are asking to consist of Medicaid asset protection as part of their tax preparing strategies. For those of you not familiar with the 2005 Tax Reduction Act, some of the provisions address specific transfers by seniors beneath the new Medicare nursing home provisions. Under the new provisions, ahead of a senior qualifies for Medicare help into a nursing residence, they should spend-down their assets. These new restriction have a 5 year appear-back, utilized to be three years. And used to be that each spouse had a one-half interest in the marital property, it now appears that all the marital assets are to be spent-down. I have not noticed precise regulations but it appears that the healthy spouse will be left with no any assets if one of them gets sick.

Suggestions by seniors have been to transfer their assets to their youngsters. Although this alternative is available, Im not positive that its a excellent alternative. What if the youngster decides to use the asset for themselves, what if they get divorced and the judge awards assets originally intended for the parents to the divorcing wifes decree, what if the youngster gets sued?

There are also tax implications. If the assets are transferred medicaid medicare fraud to the child for much less than fair market place worth, then its a taxable gift. Even worse, if this kind of transfer to the kid is completed prior to the 5 years-look back, -is it a fraudulent conveyance?

Medicaid asset protection has to be accomplished really cautiously. Organizing in this region is evolving. There are a lot of eldercare law firms popping up all more than the place. I have home healthcare fraud been approached by such a firm to send them clients. They claim that they can structure a new deal whereby the nursing property wont be able to attach assets even after they enter the nursing residence.

I know this a lot, any strategy utilized to deflect assets from the original owner has to be completed at its fair market value. For example you just cant transfer your property from you to reporting medical fraud your youngster. There are tax consequences. Did you just sell your residence? Or did you just gift your home? Who will decide the fair marketplace value? Did you get a genuine appraisal? If therefore, its at less than fair industry worth (prepared buyer and willing seller, neither beneath compulsion to acquire or sell, each acting in their greatest interest) did you just develop a far more challenging issue?

Any approach whereby theres an element of strings attached, its revocable and as a result you have done absolutely nothing to disassociate oneself from your asset. A single can challenge your intent, to divert assets for the purpose of defrauding a potential creditor and failure to have filed a gift tax return has statutory penalties, and interest, worse- if Medicare intended, criminal?

I am aware of only one method of disassociating oneself from your asset (individual residence, your CDs, your investments, vacation spot) is to give it away. Period. You can gift it to your youngsters, spend the tax and thats it. The problem is that you no longer have any control and you are at the mercy of your childs excellent intentions and a blessed spouse. Risky? You bet!

An irrevocable trust with an independent trustee (not connected to you by blood or marriage) will fit the bill.

An irrevocable trust, is an irrevocable contract between you and the independent trustee to manage the assets for the benefit of all beneficiaries. You and your spouse can grow to be beneficiaries along with your young children and grand kids.

Timing is very critical. If the transfer (repositioning) of your valuable assets is carried out before the 5 years, chances are excellent that it will stand-up in court. What if its just before the five years are up? Is your Medicaid asset protection plan nonetheless excellent? In my book its much better to have done a thing than absolutely nothing.