My aunt has a problem. She needs to be in a nursing home. My cousin (her son) died a couple years ago...I think he was expecting to be her caregiver. She does not qualify because she paid his bills for years, bought a car for him, etc. Well, that money is never going to be paid back. Ever. There isn't anyone going to pay nursing home bills. Ever. How does this work? If the total he got was $80,000. That would pay a nursing home for one year. If I have her move in with Mom, then I will take care of them both...at the end of the year...will Medicaid qualifier her to move into a nursing home? Next question....if Mom is paying the bills and My aunt is only paying what she can (small social security). Will that, in turn, make Mom ineligible? Honestly, I plan to be mom's caregiver till the end...but, what if this problem is just kicked down the road, and I go first...like my cousin?
My Aunt ended up moving in with her daughter. But, that time does not count toward the penality. The only thing that counts in that penality is by paying a nursing home actual cash up to the value of the "gifts".
So, my cousin will keep her for 2 more years (till the 5 year look back expires). Then she can qualify because those "gifts" will no longer be "on the books".