━ Medicaid Planning ━

Name: Vick Law, P.C.
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Serving Greenwood, Indianapolis, and the Surrounding Communities

If a sudden illness, fall, or diagnosis means you or a loved one now needs nursing home care, Medicaid can help cover the cost — but qualifying requires meeting strict income and asset limits, and mistakes can delay or disqualify an application for months. Vick Law helps Indiana families navigate this process, protect what they can under the law, and move forward with a clear plan instead of guesswork.

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What Is Medicaid Crisis Planning?

Medicaid crisis planning is legal guidance for families who need to qualify for Medicaid quickly — usually because a spouse or parent has already been hospitalized or admitted to a nursing home. Unlike long-term Medicaid planning done years in advance, crisis planning works within a compressed timeline to legally protect as much of a family's income and assets as the law allows while still meeting Medicaid's eligibility rules.

This is different from simply applying for Medicaid on your own. An elder law attorney can identify exemptions, allowances, and legal planning tools that a family often won't find by reading the application instructions alone.

How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost in Indiana?

Nursing home care is one of the largest unplanned expenses a family can face. National studies place the median annual cost of a private nursing home room well over $100,000, and costs continue to climb faster than general inflation. Without help from Medicaid or long-term care insurance, these costs can consume a family's savings in a few years or less.

$100,000+

National median annual cost, private nursing home room

$250/day

Indiana's rate used to calculate Medicaid penalty periods

$8,027/mo

Approximate monthly equivalent of that rate

What Are Indiana's Medicaid Income and Asset Limits in 2026?

Indiana's Medicaid rules for nursing home and long-term care coverage are updated annually. As of 2026:

Income limit: a single applicant's gross monthly income generally cannot exceed $2,982. Indiana is an income-cap state, so income even slightly over this limit can require a Qualified Income Trust ("Miller Trust") to qualify.
Asset limit (single applicant): $2,000 in countable assets.
Asset limit (married, both spouses applying): a combined $3,000.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA): the at-home spouse can generally keep half the couple's countable assets, within a range of $32,532 to $162,660.
Home equity limit: Indiana currently sets this at $752,000 — the home is often exempt while a spouse or dependent lives there.
Look-back period: Indiana reviews 60 months (5 years) of financial history before an application date to check for asset transfers made for less than fair value.

These figures adjust annually and vary based on marital status, health needs, and which Medicaid program applies. The numbers above reflect 2026 figures at the time of publishing — an elder law attorney can confirm the current limits and how they apply to your specific situation.

What Happens If I Give Away Assets Before Applying?

It's a natural instinct to want to give assets to family before applying for Medicaid — but doing so without legal guidance can backfire. Indiana's look-back period means any transfer made for less than fair market value within the prior 60 months can trigger a penalty period, during which Medicaid won't pay for care, even though the applicant otherwise qualifies. The length of that penalty is calculated by dividing the value transferred by Indiana's average monthly cost of care.

This is one of the most common — and most avoidable — mistakes families make when trying to handle a Medicaid application without legal guidance.

Can My Spouse Keep Our Home and Savings?

In many cases, yes. Federal and Indiana spousal impoverishment protections exist specifically so the spouse who isn't entering a nursing home isn't left with nothing. Depending on the couple's total assets, the at-home spouse may be able to keep:

✓Up to $162,660 under the Community Spouse Resource Allowance
✓The family home, in most cases, while they continue to live there
✓A portion of the applying spouse's monthly income if their own income falls below Indiana's protected minimum

The right planning strategy depends heavily on the couple's specific assets, income sources, and timeline — which is why this is rarely a do-it-yourself process.

How Does the Medicaid Application Process Work in Indiana?

While every family's situation is different, Medicaid crisis planning in Indiana generally involves:

Assessing the full financial picture — income, assets, and how they're titled between spouses

Identifying legal planning options — exemptions, allowances, and permissible spend-down strategies available under current law

Preparing and submitting the application through Indiana's Division of Family Resources or the FSSA Benefits Portal

Responding to caseworker requests for documentation, which can include up to five years of financial records

Coordinating with the care facility so care isn't interrupted while the application is pending

An elder law attorney manages this process alongside the family so nothing is missed and deadlines aren't overlooked during an already difficult time.

How Can an Elder Law Attorney Help With Medicaid Planning?

Medicaid's rules are intentionally strict, and small errors — an asset titled the wrong way, a gift made at the wrong time, a missed document — can delay approval or trigger a penalty period. Working with an experienced elder law attorney means:

✓A clear explanation of your options, in plain language, before decisions are made
✓Legal strategies to protect the maximum income and assets the law allows
✓Guidance through the application and any appeals, start to finish
✓One point of contact instead of navigating state agencies alone

You do not have to figure this out by yourself. Our team has guided Greenwood and Indianapolis-area families through this exact process.

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Medicaid Planning FAQs

Is Medicaid the same as Medicare?

No. Medicare provides very limited nursing home coverage, generally only for short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay. Medicaid is the program that covers long-term nursing home care for those who qualify, but it has strict income and asset limits that Medicare does not.

How long does it take to qualify for Medicaid in a crisis situation?

Timelines vary based on how quickly documentation can be gathered and whether any planning strategies need to be put in place first. Crisis planning is designed specifically to move as efficiently as possible when care is already needed.

Can I apply for Medicaid myself without an attorney?

You can, but Indiana's Medicaid rules include exemptions and legal planning strategies that aren't explained in the application itself. Many families who apply without guidance either pay more out-of-pocket than necessary or encounter delays from avoidable mistakes.

Will Medicaid take our house?

Not automatically. The home is often exempt while a spouse or dependent lives there, though Indiana's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) may seek repayment from the estate after both spouses have passed, with exceptions in some circumstances. See our full guide to Medicaid estate recovery in Indiana for specifics, or talk with an attorney about your family's situation.

What if my income is too high to qualify?

Indiana allows a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) for applicants whose income exceeds the state's limit, which can allow them to still qualify for Medicaid coverage.

What happens to my Medicaid if I move to another state?

Medicaid is state-administered, so coverage generally doesn't transfer automatically — you'd need to apply under the new state's rules. See our guide, "Can I Transfer My Medicaid Benefits to Another State?" for the full explanation.

Seeking legal guidance before you apply for Medicaid is one of the most important steps in this process. We can help you and your family move forward with clarity during a difficult and uncertain time.

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This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Medicaid income, asset, and resource figures are updated annually and may vary by individual circumstances. Contact our office for guidance specific to your situation.