Asset Protection, Spousal Waiver, Medicaid Lessons Learned

Here's a tough Medicaid lesson my brothers and I just learned that I'm putting out there so others don't make the same mistake.

TLDR Somehow, I/We got the impression that what mattered was the Spousal Waiver. In truth, what mattered was BOTH the Spousal Waiver AND the Money Move. BOTH PARTS. Somehow, someone didn’t communicate or overlooked or didn’t understand the importance of the Money Move.

First, my dad had no plan for my mom's care.

No insurance.

Besides Medicaid.

He thought LTC insurance was too expensive or whatever.

And he wanted to make sure all his money went to us (less taxes).

It's theoretically possible to do that, but is like balancing a 4-legged table on 3 legs.

It takes care.

Yes, my mom signed a Spousal Waiver.

But, for some reason, my dad didn't make the required Money Move.

When he needed to.

He didn't get the money out of his name -- and into a trust or something, IDK -- when he needed to.

So we now have to wait another THREE YEARS before my mom is Medicaid eligible.

And, yes, we have a lawyer, but it still happened.

(I don't know who screwed up.)