MEDICAID
LOOK-BACK PERIOD AND
PERMISSIBLE TRANSFERS
When applying for
Medicaid benefits, Medicaid will examine the applicant's assets to determine if
any assets were transferred away, prior to applying for Medicaid, in order to qualify
the applicant for Medicaid benefits. The look-back period is 60 months
prior to the submission of the application. It is important to note that
the transfer rules only apply to applicants for nursing home Medicaid benefits
--- they do not apply to those applying for community based home care benefits
which has a two (2) year look back period effective 10/2020.. .
When applying for
nursing home or institutional Medicaid benefits, an applicant's home may be
permissibly transferred to a spouse, a child who is under age 21, blind or
disabled, a sibling who has an equity interest in the home and who was residing
in the home for at least one year before the applicant was institutionalized,
or to a child age 21 or older who was residing in the home for two years prior
to the applicant being institutionalized.
The transfer of assets,
other than the home, are permissible to a spouse, a certified blind or disabled
child, or, for applicants under age 65, to a trust that meets certain specified
requirements.
In certain
circumstances, assets may be transferred into a Medicaid annuity and thus
qualify the applicant to receive Medicaid benefits.