When Sarah called my office, she was in full-blown panic mode. Her dad, a retired firefighter, had just been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s. His savings were modest, his pension wasn’t going to cover a care facility, and Sarah was terrified she’d have to drain her own retirement account to keep him afloat. Like most people, she thought Medicaid was only for people with nothing to their name. Spoiler alert: It’s not. 
Here’s the deal with Medicaid in Florida—it’s complicated, but it’s not impossible. Most people hit a wall when they hear about the asset and income limits, but that’s where planning comes in. For example, we helped Sarah’s dad qualify without selling his house or wiping out his life savings. How? By using legal strategies that are completely above board (and no, I’m not talking about stuffing cash under the mattress).
One of the biggest hurdles is Florida’s look-back period, which means you can’t just give away assets at the last minute and expect to qualify. Sarah’s dad had made a generous gift to his church a couple of years ago, which almost tripped him up. But with some quick action and the right paperwork, we made sure it didn’t derail his application.
Here’s the takeaway: Medicaid rules are tough, but they’re not insurmountable if you know what you’re doing—or if you work with someone who does. If you’re trying to figure it out on your own, stop. You could end up costing yourself time and money you don’t have.
Don’t wait until you’re scrambling at the last minute. Request a Consultation today, and let’s make sure you or your loved ones get the care you deserve—without sacrificing everything you’ve worked for.