• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Dental Practice Law
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medicaid and Elder Law
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Carmel, Indiana Elder Resources
        • Fishers Indiana Elder Law Resources
        • Greenfield, Indiana Elder Law Resources
        • Greenwood Elder Resources
        • Indianapolis Elder Law Resources
        • Lawrence Elder Law Resources
        • Plainfield Elder Resources
        • Zionsville Elder Law Resources
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning for Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Abuse
      • Elder Law
        • Medicaid
        • Medicaid Planning
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Avoiding Estate Taxes
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Women and the Need for Estate Planning
      • Financial Planning
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan
      • Probate
      • Power of Attorney
      • Small Estate Administration
      • Trusts
        • Trust Administration
        • Trust Administration
        • Serving as Executor
      • Understanding Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
      • Wills
        • Contesting a Will
    • Newsletter
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss Of A Loved One
      • Probate Resources
        • Carmel, Indiana Probate Resources
        • Greenfield Probate
        • Greenwood Probate
        • Indianapolis Probate
        • Plainfield Probate
        • Indiana Probate
        • Zionsville Probate
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Areas We Serve
    • Boone County
      • Lebanon
      • Zionsville
    • Hamilton County
      • Carmel
      • Fishers
    • Hancock County
      • Greenfield
    • Hendricks County
      • Brownsburg
      • Plainfield
    • Johnson County
      • Franklin, Indiana
      • Greenwood
    • Marion County
      • Central Indiana
      • Indianapolis
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Frank & Kraft, Attorneys at Law

Indianapolis Estate Planning Attorneys

CONNECT WITH US TODAY(317) 684-1100

Attend a Free Workshop
Home » Is There a Medicaid Asset Limit?

Is There a Medicaid Asset Limit?

July 29, 2014Elder Law, Medicaid

15

Before we examine the Medicaid asset limit question, we should explain why Medicaid is important to many seniors who will qualify for Medicare coverage.

If you earn sufficient retirement credits while you are working, you will qualify for Medicare when you reach the age of 65.  Medicare is a government health insurance program that you pay into when you are paying your taxes throughout your life.

You can earn as many as four retirement credits per year, and you need 40 credits to qualify for Medicare.

Medicaid is also a government health insurance program.  You don’t need retirement credits to qualify for Medicaid. This program is available to people who can demonstrate sufficient financial need.

Many people who qualify for Medicare ultimately seek Medicaid eligibility because Medicare will not pay for long-term custodial care.  This would be the type of care that you would receive in a nursing home or assisted living community.  It should be noted that some people can receive custodial care in their homes.

Medicaid will pay for long-term care, and it is the solution for most seniors who are residing in nursing homes.

Medicaid Asset Limit

There is a Medicaid asset limit that stands at $2,000 for an individual in most states.  However, everything that you own does not count when Medicaid is considering your application.

If you are a homeowner, the value of your home does not count when Medicaid is determining your eligibility, but there is an upper equity limit.  In 2014, the upper equity limit in Indiana is $543,000.  If you enter a long-term care facility and your spouse is remaining at home, there is no upper equity limit.

One vehicle that is used for transportation is not considered to be countable.  You can also retain ownership of your heirloom jewelry, your wedding ring, and your engagement ring.

Under Medicaid regulations, you can have a life insurance policy valued at up to $1,500, and you can have the same amount set aside for burial or cremation expenses.

Your personal effects and household goods would not be counted for Medicaid purposes.

Medicaid Spend Down

To become eligible for Medicaid, you could spend down your assets before you apply for eligibility.  However, you must complete the spend down at least five years prior to applying for Medicaid coverage.  If you give away assets within five years of applying, you are penalized, and your eligibility is delayed.

Free Report on Medicaid Planning

Our firm has prepared a free special report that takes an in-depth look at Medicaid planning.  The rules and regulations are complex, so this report is invaluable for those who are interested in future Medicaid coverage.

To obtain access to your copy of the report, click this link and follow the simple instructions: Medicaid Planning Report.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Paul Kraft is Co-Founder and the senior Principal of Frank & Kraft, one of the leading law firms in Indiana in the area of estate planning as well as business and tax planning.

Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Understanding the Annual Exclusion - January 31, 2023
  • Updated Federal Gift and Estate Tax Figures for 2023 - January 26, 2023
  • Why Estate Planning Is Important for Multi-National Couples - January 24, 2023

Other Articles You May Find Useful

caregiver
What You Need to Know If You Are a Caregiver
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Indianapolis elder law attorneys
A Pre-Paid Funeral Plan Might Not Be a Wise Choice
Indianapolis elder law attorney
How to Find the Right Caregiver for a Parent
Indianapolis elder law attorneys
What You Need to Know about Elder Financial Exploitation
Indianapolis elder law attorneys
What Options Are Available for Elder Care?

Primary Sidebar

Frank & Kraft, Attorneys at Law

Download our free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

Blog Subscription

Where We Are

Frank & Kraft Attorneys at Law
135 N. Pennsylvania Street Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2485
Phone: (317) 684-1100
Fax: (317) 684-6111

See Larger MapGet directions

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

frankkraft_sidbr_map

Footer

  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
footer-logo

Frank & Kraft Attorneys at Law
Attorney Advertisement

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.

© 2023 · American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Contact Us