Question: Will the Fact that Dad has given gifts to his children over his lifetime preclude him from receiving Medicaid benefits?
Answer: The only gifts that matter to Medicaid (currently) are gifts made within 5 years of filing for Medicaid benefits. There is talk that this will be extended to a 10 year look-back period but this is not the current law. Small gifts or gifts that are not made in order to qualify for Medicaid are not usually considered a problem during the 5 year look-back period. A watch or similar item for a birthday or graduation would not present a problem, but an automobile would.
Ivan Michael Tucker, Esq.
Law Office of I. Michael Tucker, PLC
Altamonte Springs, Florida
