Unfortunately, many trusts will trap assets and force them to be spent for the medical costs of an ill spouse, when the assets could otherwise have been saved from Medicaid spend down, and could have been used for the well spouse.  

    A Medicaid application is generally begun by a call to the local Medicaid Office.

    Generally, information about the Medicaid applicant is taken, and a case is opened by the Medicaid staff.

    The Medicaid application process can seem long and complex.  That is because it is.

    It can take anywhere from several days to several weeks to gather all the information you need to make a Medicaid application.

    As part of a good estate plan, most people also do an incapacity plan, so that someone else can manage their affairs if they ever become incompetent

    A major component of some incapacity plans is a trust, which many people think of as simply an estate plan.