Pennsylvania Medicaid and Elder Law Attorney

Medicaid Planning

Medicaid 5-Year Look-Back Penalty: Can You Avoid It?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

When you apply for Medicaid, the agency will launch a 5-year look-back, in which they review your finances for the 60 months preceding your application date. This process is in …

Pennsylvania Medicaid Long-Term Care Numbers and Fact Sheet 2024

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

2024 Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Long-Term Care Numbers and Fact Sheet According to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, there are over 2,400,000 Pennsylvania residents over age 60.  More than 240,000 …

Gifts Can Create Ineligibility for Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Long-Term Care Benefits

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

Parents sometimes help their children financially. Grandparents give money to their grandchildren. Unfortunately if that parent or grandparent is admitted to a nursing home within 5 years of such gifting and needs to apply for Medical Assistance…

Pennsylvania’s Filial Support Law: Children Can Be Held Responsible for Parent’s Unpaid Nursing Home Bill?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

Pennsylvania appellate case law has upheld lower court decisions that imposed liability on children for their parents’ unpaid nursing home bills under Pennsylvania’s filial responsibility law (also called “filial support …

Medicaid Application Pending, 7 Things You Need to Know

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

So your application for Medicaid long-term care benefits is “pending” with the local County Assistance Office. Here are 7 things you need to know: You or your attorney should stay …

Top 3 Reasons Nursing Home Medicaid Benefits are Denied

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

There are many reasons why an application for Medicaid long-term care benefits can be denied. A denial of Medicaid benefits needs to be taken seriously and appealed in a timely …

Medicaid Application Process, 5-Year Look-back 5 Years of Records for Small and Inactive Accounts

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

It can make sense to close small and inactive bank accounts to make the Medicaid application process easier if you may need to apply for long-term care benefits in the …

Pennsylvania Elder Law Reference Guide 2024

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

Pennsylvania Elder Law Reference Guide 2024 Meeting With Your Lawyer Perhaps the most difficult part of the estate planning process is overcoming procrastination and scheduling that initial consultation. For the …

What Assets Are Exempt From Medicaid Estate Recovery Rights?

By Robert C. Gerhard, III

When a Medicaid beneficiary passes away, their estate may be obligated to pay back outstanding debts, potentially including Medicaid long-term care benefits. However, some assets are exempt from Medicaid estate …