Medicaid is often seen as a safety net for seniors who need long-term care, but buried within many state plans is a clause that allows the government to recover costs from your estate after death. Known as “Medicaid estate recovery,” this provision means that assets such as homes, savings, or property can be claimed by the state to reimburse care expenses. Seniors who assume Medicaid will protect their families from financial hardship may be shocked to discover that their heirs could lose everything. The clause is rarely explained clearly, leaving many unaware until it is too late.
