How Medicaid Planning Saves Families Thousands
Paying for long-term care is one of the biggest financial threats facing Kansas families today. With monthly nursing home costs averaging $8,000 or more, even a modest estate can be wiped out in just a year.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
With smart, legal Medicaid planning, many families protect their home, savings, and income while still qualifying for care. Whether you're planning ahead or facing a sudden crisis, an experienced Medicaid attorney in Kansas can help you avoid costly mistakes and preserve what you’ve worked so hard to earn.
The True Cost of Long-Term Care in Kansas
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 70% of Americans over age 65 will need some form of long-term care.
In Kansas, the average nursing home bill exceeds $8,000 per month—that’s $96,000 per year. Multiply that by just three years of care, and you’re looking at a $288,000 problem.
Now imagine needing care for five or more years... or having a spouse at home who still needs those resources.
Without planning, families may be forced to:
Spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid
Sell property, including the family home
Cash in retirement accounts (with tax penalties)
Borrow money or go into debt
Disinherit children or grandchildren
But with a skilled Medicaid attorney, these outcomes are often avoidable.
How Medicaid Planning Works
Medicaid is the only government program that covers long-term nursing care. However, to qualify in Kansas, your “countable” assets must fall below $2,000 (for an individual), and income limits also apply.
Medicaid planning involves legally restructuring assets and income to help someone qualify without going broke first.
Common tools include:
Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs)
Move assets out of your name to protect them after the 5-year lookback period.
Effective for those who plan early.
Medicaid-Compliant Annuities
Turn cash into income streams that benefit the spouse remaining at home.
These annuities must meet strict requirements to avoid penalties.
Gifting with Penalty Period Planning
Carefully structured transfers paired with private pay can protect assets even within the 5-year lookback window.
Spousal Asset Protections
The healthy spouse may keep the home, one car, and other exempt assets.
Kansas follows federal spousal impoverishment rules.
Every dollar preserved through these strategies is a dollar your family keeps—for emergencies, future generations, or quality-of-life upgrades.
Kansas Medicaid Rules: What You Can Keep
For married couples in Kansas, the spouse staying at home (called the Community Spouse) is protected by federal spousal impoverishment laws.
As of 2025:
The Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) is up to $157,920 in countable assets.
The Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) ranges from $2,555 to $3,853.50, depending on housing and utility expenses.
This means a spouse can often:
Keep the family home
Retain one vehicle
Maintain a modest savings buffer
Continue receiving income within state limits
These protections are legally guaranteed and can be preserved even when one spouse enters long-term care—if the Medicaid application is properly structured.
Avoiding Mistakes That Cost Thousands
Families often make innocent but costly errors when trying to handle Medicaid applications on their own:
Gifting money or property too late
Spending down assets that could have been protected
Selling the family home unnecessarily
Failing to document caregiving expenses
Triggering a Medicaid penalty period by accident
These mistakes can lead to months of ineligibility, thousands in unnecessary costs, or even Medicaid denial. An experienced Kansas Medicaid attorney helps avoid these risks.
The Role of a Medicaid Attorney
At Advanced Legal Planning, our attorneys:
Analyze your family’s assets, income, and timeline
Customize a Medicaid plan that meets Kansas-specific rules
Implement trusts, annuities, and spousal protections
Guide families through Medicaid applications and appeals
Handle both pre-crisis and crisis situations
Our focus is on education and empowerment—so you can make informed choices with confidence. To learn more, visit our Estate Planning Overview.
See Real Examples
Hear from real Kansas families who’ve navigated Medicaid planning on our Story Time video series. These are stories of sacrifice, hope, and legal guidance that made a life-changing difference.
Take the First Step Today
The sooner you start, the more options you have—and the more you can save. Whether you’re planning ahead or already facing a care crisis, you don’t have to do it alone.
Schedule a free consultation with our Derby or Wichita office, or call (316) 252-2233 to speak with a Medicaid attorney who understands Kansas law and cares about your family’s future.
