Secret Strategies to Protect Your Savings From Nursing Home Costs
In Ohio, the average cost of a nursing home is approaching $15,000 per month — nearly $180,000 per year.
Most families are shocked by how quickly savings disappear.
And here’s another surprise:
Medicare does not pay for long-term nursing home care.
Once short-term rehabilitation ends, families are often left paying privately until Medicaid eligibility is achieved.
Many people assume that means they must “go broke” first.
That assumption is not always correct.
Can You Protect Assets After Someone Is Already in a Nursing Home?
Yes — in some cases, planning opportunities still exist even after admission.
This is one of the most misunderstood areas of elder law.
Nursing homes generally do not explain Medicaid planning options. Not because they’re trying to hide anything — but because they cannot provide legal advice.
Similarly, Medicaid caseworkers are not allowed to advise you on strategies that could preserve assets.
That responsibility falls on you — and your attorney.
A Real-Life Example
We recently met with a married couple who had been told the husband was not eligible for Medicaid because they had “too much money.”
They had already been paying privately for several months.
They assumed they had no choice but to continue spending down their savings.
During our consultation, we identified a planning opportunity based on their specific financial situation.
We implemented a strategy that:
- Helped the husband qualify for benefits much sooner
- Preserved their home
- Protected a significant portion of their savings
- Secured retirement income for the healthy spouse
Every case is different. But the key lesson is this:
Do not assume ineligibility without a legal review.
You May Have More Options Than You Think
If you are:
- Paying privately for care
- Considering a nursing home placement
- Told you are “over income” or “over assets”
- Watching savings rapidly disappear
It may not be too late to plan.
Crisis Medicaid planning strategies can sometimes:
- Accelerate eligibility
- Protect a spouse
- Preserve a portion of assets
- Prevent unnecessary spend-down
Timing matters — but immediate planning is often better than none at all.
Why Waiting Is Expensive
At $400–$500 per day, every month of private pay can cost $12,000–$15,000 or more.
A short delay in getting proper legal advice could mean tens of thousands of dollars unnecessarily lost.
One phone call could potentially change the financial outcome for your family.
Speak With an Elder Law Attorney Before Assuming the Worst
At Red Wagon Law Firm, we help families evaluate Medicaid eligibility and crisis planning options — even after a loved one has already entered a nursing home.
If you’ve been told you don’t qualify, don’t settle for that answer without a second opinion.
Schedule a confidential consultation to determine whether a strategy may be available in your situation.