Medicaid Lookback Period

Added November 5, 2007 by Ilyce R. Glink

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Summary: The Medicaid lookback period is 5 years. Any changes made to assets within 5 years of applying for Medicaid could come back to haunt you. Medicaid creditors are able to look at any transfers of property made during that time.

Q: My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in Sept 2006 and after treatment, was given a clean bill of health. Six days ago, she fell and was brought to the emergency room where they informed the family that her cancer had spread to her brain.

For about a month she had been suffering from headaches, dizziness, and had problems speaking, but had kept this from the family. We come from a very modest background, so our income and insurance is limited and we may have to ask for government assistance. My brother and I live at home with our parents and my older sister has a home of her own. We know we would get medicaid, but it would bill us at the end of my mother's treatment and we know we would not be able to afford it. We also understand that if that were the case, they could take our home as payment. If my parents signed a quitclaim deed releasing the property to my sister, would that mean it was 100% her property and the debtors would not be able to take that from her as a result of my parents' debt?

If you could offer some advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

A: I'm so sorry about your mother's condition. Unfortunately, she's sick now, and you can't have her transfer the house into your sister';s name. It's too late. Medicaid has a 5-year lookback window, where they'd be able to have a judge unwind the transfer to get the house.

But if your father is living, then the creditors may only put a lien against the house. If they hold the house as tenants in the entirety, he may be able to protect the house from creditors until he sells it or dies. Upon his death, if you didn't get reimbursement from the government, the house would be sold to pay these bills. At that time, you and your brother would have to find another place to live.

You need to look into the medical insurance your mother has, and what it covers in terms of hospital care, doctor's care, prescriptions, and hospice care, if required. I'd try to figure out what coverage you do have and what it will cover as soon as possible. Later, you can figure out how to pay for it.

Best of luck to you, your siblings, and your parents at this difficult time.

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