When a parent needs nursing home care, one of the first questions families often ask is: “Are we going to have to sell Mom’s house to pay for care?”
The answer may not be as simple—or as frightening—as you think.
In this episode of Aging Starts Now, Outreach Coordinator Dana Hentschel talks with attorney Josh Hunter of Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning about how Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) treats the family home and what families need to understand before selling, gifting, or transferring property.
They discuss:
• Whether the family home counts as an asset for Medicaid eligibility
• The difference between Medicaid eligibility and estate recovery
• How having a spouse or disabled child in the home can affect planning
• Why simply transferring the house to your children can create serious problems
• The caregiver-child exception and other potential protections
• What options may still be available when nursing home care is needed now
• Why families should get advice before making major decisions involving the home
If you’re worried about paying for long-term care and protecting the family home, this episode can help you understand the questions to ask before making a move that could affect TennCare eligibility.
