The material in this section was originally written in 2004 and updated in 2009. We will update it as we can. You can also search “estate recovery” on this website for more recent cases.
- Introduction
- The Structure of the Medicaid Rules
- The Federal Rule
- Law Prior to 1993
- The Current Statute: 42 U.S.C. 1396p(b)
- Legislative History
- Elements of the Rule
- Breaking Down the Rule
- Georgia Law and Rules
- State Legislation
- The State Plan
- State Regulations
- State Manual
- The Estate Recovery Notice
- Case Law
- Specific Property Interests
- What is a property interest?
- Retroactive Effect
- Revocable Transfers
- Joint Tenancy
- Beneficiary Deeds
- Life Estates
- Spouse’s estate
- Trusts
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BLOG POSTS
Locating Medicaid Law
Sometimes finding Medicaid law is tough, but we hope to give you resources here. Federal and state statutes, regulations and case law is available to subscribers of LEXIS and Westlaw. The federal statute, which is Title XIX of the Social Security Act, is at 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq. (the “Medicaid Act”). The federal […]
Medicaid Estate Recovery is Required
At common law there is no obligation to reimburse the government for financial support and services received while impoverished. When the Medicaid Act was enacted, Congress gave States the option of pursuing estate recovery and, until 1993, estate recovery remained optional. Now, within the parameters of the federal rule, States must pursue estate recovery (1) […]
Structure of the Medicaid Program
“Each participating State develops a plan containing reasonable standards . . . for determining eligibility for and the extent of medical assistance” within boundaries set by the Medicaid statute and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.” Wis. Dep’t of Health & Family Servs v. Blumer, 534 U.S. 473 (2002) (quoting Schweiker v. Gray Panthers, […]
Introduction to Medicaid Estate Recovery
Medicaid, as opposed to Medicare, is a health insurance program, jointly funded by the state and federal governments that pays for health care for America’s poor. See Medicaid Act (Title XIX of the Social Security Act), 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq. Not everyone is eligible for medical assistance; only those persons who fall within […]
Idaho Medicaid Agency Sets Aside Deeds to Grandchildren in Estate Recovery Action
In State of Idaho v. Beason, 546 P.3d 684 (2024), the Medicaid agency filed an estate recovery claim in Juanita Gilbert’s estate. she received Medicaid benefits from 1996 until her death in 2015, totaling $137,023.29 and, after she died, the State wanted its money back. Juanita and her husband, Robert, owned real property in Butts […]
Long-Term Care Partnership Policies
Long-Term Care Partnership Policies One example of good planning is purchasing long-term care insurance. The greatest risk to non-taxable estates (those under $12.9 million) is the cost of long-term care. With long-term care insurance, you can shift that risk to an insurance company. A partnership policy is a special long-term care insurance policy that protects […]
SSI Decisions finding no penalty where beneficiary over 65 funds a pooled trust sub-account
The federal Medicaid statute authorizes the use of individual self-settled special needs trusts for individuals under the age of 65. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(A). It also authorizes any applicant, regardless of age, to establish a self-settled pooled special needs trust sub-account. 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(C). An open question not addressed in (d)(4)(C) is whether […]
Georgia Medicaid Manual Updated with Transmittal 71
On November 17, 2023, Georgia issued Manual Transmittal 71, updating its Medicaid Manual, making technical changes to the following sections. The following sections were updated: 2054 – Emergency Medical Assistance 2060 – ABD Medicaid Application Processing 2101 – ABD Medicaid Classes of Assistance Overview 2111 – SSI Medicaid 2135 – Hospice Medicaid 2143 – QMB […]
Medicaid Questions: Am I Eligible?
Am I Eligible for Medicaid? Recently we were asked about the following fact pattern. Parent had multiple properties in different counties. More than 60 months ago, parent gave these properties to children reserving a life estate. The question, initially, was whether parent is eligible for nursing home Medicaid. The follow-up question was whether the property […]
IRS says “Wait a Minute” on Stepping-up Basis for Assets in Irrevocable Trust
Until recently, the IRS has said little (if anything) regarding whether assets the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust receives get a step up in basis following the Grantor’s death. With issuance of Revenue Ruling 2023-2, that has changed. The IRS has spoken. In RR 2023-2, the IRS posed the following hypothetical which I’ve edited slightly: […]
