Protect What Matters

Medicaid Spend Down Strategies in Peck, Kansas

Most families in Peck, KS have heard that you have to "spend down" your assets before Medicaid will help pay for long term care. What they do not know is that there are legal strategies to protect a significant portion of those assets before the spend down ever begins.

You do not have to lose everything. There is a better way.

What Peck Families Assume That Is Simply Not True

"We have to drain our savings account before we qualify."
"Our home has to be sold to pay for care."
"There is nothing we can do once someone is in a nursing home."
"Giving money to our kids will help us qualify faster."

Every one of these assumptions can lead to costly mistakes. Advanced Legal Planning helps Peck families understand what is actually possible under Kansas Medicaid law.

Medicaid Spend Down Strategies in Peck, Kansas

Trusted Medicaid Spend Down Guidance for Peck Families

At Advanced Legal Planning, we specialize in legal Medicaid spend down strategies that help you qualify for benefits without unnecessarily giving up everything you have worked to build. We serve families in Peck and throughout Sumner and Sedgwick counties, and we understand both the urgency families feel and the legal tools available to help them.

Attorney Mark Galloway holds dual LL.M. degrees in Elder Law (University of Kansas) and Tax (Boston University) and has helped Kansas families preserve assets totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars through proper legal planning.

Our Medicaid Planning Blueprint

Step 1: Schedule a Free Consultation Get clarity about your situation and what can be legally protected.
Step 2: Create a Legal Plan to Qualify We structure your spend down strategy and prepare your Medicaid application correctly.
Step 3: Secure Medicaid and Peace of Mind Your loved one gets the care they need, and you keep what is yours.

What Are My Options?

Without the assistance of insurance, the monthly expense of long term care is difficult for most families to cover. There are three options to pay for Long Term Care expenses.

Long Term Care Insurance

Long Term Care Insurance is designed to pay for chronic medical conditions. These policies pay a daily rate.

Cost: According to the 2020 Price Index, a healthy 55 year old male should expect to pay about $1,700 per year for a policy that offers benefits of $164,000. If unused, those benefits compound over time to offer $386,500 by age 85.

Tax Deductions: If you itemize your deductions, Federal and Kansas tax laws allow a deduction for part or all of your Long Term Care insurance premiums as medical expenses.

State Partnership Program: Having a qualifying Long Term Care policy enables you to apply for Medicaid under modified rules, allowing you to keep more resources and still qualify.

Private Pay

Without the help of any insurance, an individual is required to pay for Long Term Care from their own resources. In Kansas, the average expense will be near $100,000 per year. Bank accounts can drain quickly at this rate. One way individuals sometimes raise the needed funds is to get a reverse mortgage on the family home.

Many people believe they are required to use all of their resources to pay for this care until they are poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. Advanced Legal Planning may be able to help you qualify more quickly while preserving a significant percentage of your assets.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a needs based benefit to pay for medical care. If you qualify, Medicaid can pay for Assisted Living, Home Health Care, or a Skilled Nursing Facility. Whether someone needs care immediately or there is time to plan, Advanced Legal Planning works with individuals and families to design plans that:

- Protect the most assets,

- Qualify for Medicaid as quickly as possible, and

- Allow for the best care to be provided to loved ones in need of Long Term Care.

Local Client Story

“I assumed we would have to spend our entire savings before Medicaid would step in. Mark showed us there were completely legal ways to protect a large portion of what we had saved. It changed everything for our family.”

— Robert F., Peck, KS

Safeguard Your Family's Future with a Legal Medicaid Spend Down Strategy.

We provide personalized education and trusted guidance to individuals and families in Peck, helping you make informed, confident decisions about protecting your assets, securing long term care, and preserving your legacy without the confusion or risk of going it alone.

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FAQS

What is a Medicaid spend down?

A Medicaid spend down refers to the process of reducing your countable assets to meet Medicaid's eligibility limits. Kansas requires applicants to have no more than $2,000 in countable assets to qualify for long term care Medicaid. A spend down strategy determines the most legally favorable way to reach that threshold while preserving as much wealth as possible.

What counts as a countable asset under Medicaid?

Countable assets include bank accounts, investment accounts, most retirement accounts, and secondary real estate. Exempt assets include your primary home up to a certain equity limit, one vehicle, personal belongings, and certain prepaid funeral arrangements. Strategic planning can convert countable assets into exempt or protected forms before you apply.

Can I just give money away to qualify faster?

No. Medicaid enforces a strict five year look back period on all asset transfers. Any gifts made below fair market value during that window can trigger a penalty period that delays your eligibility at exactly the wrong time. Legal spend down strategies through a qualified attorney are the only safe path.

What are some legal spend down strategies?

There are several legal strategies that may apply depending on your situation, including Medicaid compliant annuities, paying down debt, home improvements, purchasing exempt assets, establishing properly structured trusts, and spousal asset protections. Every situation is different, which is why a personalized consultation is so important.

What if my spouse still lives at home?

The Community Spouse (the healthy spouse who remains at home) is entitled to keep a portion of the couple's assets and income under Medicaid rules, known as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance. Careful planning ensures the at home spouse is not left financially devastated.

Will Medicaid try to recover assets from my estate after I pass away?

Kansas participates in the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, which can seek repayment from an estate after the recipient passes away. Properly structured trusts and other legal tools can often protect the home and other assets from recovery.

When should I start planning?

As early as possible. Families who begin planning before a health crisis has occurred have the widest range of legal options. But even if your loved one has already entered a facility, we can often still help. Call us right away.

What happens if we apply without a plan?

Without a legal spend down strategy, families often give up far more than they have to, face delays in Medicaid approval, and leave the healthy spouse without adequate resources. Working with an experienced Medicaid planning attorney protects you from these avoidable losses.

How can Advanced Legal Planning help Peck families?

We analyze your assets, design a personalized and fully legal spend down strategy, prepare your Medicaid application, and guide your family through every step. Our goal: Protect What Matters — your health, your family, and your future.

Areas We Proudly Serve

At Advanced Legal Planning, we provide Medicaid planning and spend down strategy services to families across Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. Whether you are in Wichita, Derby, Hutchinson, or any of the surrounding cities, our mission is the same: to help you protect your home, your savings, and your legacy while securing the long term care you or your loved ones need.

Not in the immediate Wichita area? We proudly serve families across Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. Virtual meetings are available by request. Schedule a Virtual Consultation and get peace of mind without leaving your home.