Medicaid Resources

Government Assistance Programs Available

Planning ahead doesn't have to feel overwhelming. These free downloads are designed to help you start, one thoughtful step at a time.

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Medicaid And Medicaid Spend Down - Government Assistance Programs Available

As the cost of care continues to rise, it’s a question more families are asking every day. In 2025, the average cost of in-home care is around $800 per week for full-time care, while assisted living averages $6,500 per month—and that number climbs higher in metropolitan and coastal areas.

It’s all too common that even those with the best-laid retirement plans struggle to keep pace with the rising cost of senior living, which increases roughly 6% each year. For individuals with advanced care needs, those costs can exceed $15,000 per month. The reality is that even strong financial planning can’t always outpace inflation and longevity. Many families eventually seek state assistance just to maintain housing and the care their loved one deserves.

Early planning makes all the difference, whether you’re planning to age safely at home with some extra help or transition into an assisted living community.

That’s where Embrace Age Prepared comes in. We help families understand, plan, and prepare for the financial realities of long-term care, including Medicaid spenddown. The key to success here is not to wait it out!

Countdown to Medicaid: Spend Down Preparation Checklist

Planning ahead can make all the difference when it comes to protecting your assets and maintaining your choices in care. The sooner you start, the more options you’ll have. Use this timeline as a guide to know when to act.

36–24 Months Before

Call Embrace Age Prepared. This is your critical planning window. You need to know what you don’t, and we can help provide you with a strategy that can help you maximize your funds, identify appropriate care options, and structure your finances in a way that protects your choice and dignity. The longer you wait, the fewer options you have to select your choice of care for the future. 

12–6 Months Before

Call Embrace and talk with an advisor today! Start documenting all expenses and gathering financial records (bank statements, income proofs, insurance policies, property details). Call to schedule an appointment with your local DHS or ADRC to start your Medicaid assessment. 

Less Than 6 Months

At this stage, time is of the essence! Medicaid planning should be in full motion. Finalize your asset documentation, confirm eligibility, and ensure all spend-down actions are within state guidelines. 

What Does “Spend Down to Medicaid” Mean?

“Spending down” refers to using your excess assets in approved, meaningful ways until you reach your state’s financial eligibility limits for Medicaid long-term care.  This is the time to secure your future!

In Oregon, for example, an individual must generally have no more than $2,000–$3,000 in countable assets to qualify. Anything above that requires careful planning to reduce responsibility at Embrace Age Prepared we help lay out your care and housing options first.

What Counts as an Asset?

Countable assets include:

  • Cash, checking, and savings accounts
  • CDs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds
  • Retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s)
  • Real estate beyond your primary home or in the case your care needs extend beyond what in-home care can provide; the sale of your home as well.
  • Vehicles beyond your primary one
  • Life insurance policies with cash value
  • Secondary or vacation properties

Exempt assets (typically not counted):

  • Your primary residence (in most cases). If funds are depleted and advanced care is needed, then the sale of the home would be considered part of the spend-down process.
  • One vehicle
  • Household goods and personal items
  • Limited burial funds or pre-paid funeral plans

How to Spend Down

You can’t gift money or transfer assets to others—that triggers penalties. Instead, Medicaid allows “approved spending” on items or services that directly benefit the applicant, such as:

  • Paying for facility care before approval: With less than 10% of beds available for direct Medicaid placement, relocating to an Assisted Living facility during the early part of the spend down can help ensure care for a lifetime.
  • Paying for limited hours of  in-home care services
  • Medical and dental expenses
  • Mobility aids and durable medical equipment
  • Health insurance premiums and prescriptions
  • Prepaying for funeral or burial expenses

Medicaid also reviews your past five years of financial history (the “look-back period”) to ensure assets weren’t given away or transferred below market value.

Not for You, but for Your Aging Parent?

Let’s chat. Early planning prevents crisis decisions later.

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Countdown to Medicaid: Spend Down Preparation Checklist

36–24 Months Before Assets Are Depleted:
Call Embrace Age Prepared. Don’t wait! This is your critical planning window. You need to know what you don’t, and we can help provide you with a strategy that can help you maximize your funds, identify appropriate care options, and structure your finances in a way that protects your choice and dignity. The longer you wait, the fewer options you have to select your choice of care for the future. 

12–6 Months Before:
Call and  Advisor today!  We have to move fast!!! Start documenting all expenses and gathering financial records (bank statements, income proofs, insurance policies, property details).  Call to schedule an appointment with your local DHS or ADRC to start your Medicaid assessment. 

6 Months–Now:

Time is ticking!!  Medicaid planning should be in full motion. Finalize your asset documentation, confirm eligibility, and ensure all spend-down actions are within state guidelines. 

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