Medicaid Planning in Shaker Heights, Ohio
Protect your savings. Preserve your dignity. Plan with clarity and confidence.
Facing the Challenges of Aging
Planning for long-term care should feel calm and clear — not confusing or rushed. At Solace Estate Planning, we help individuals and families in Shaker Heights and throughout Northeast Ohio understand their options for care, qualify for benefits when appropriate, and protect what they’ve worked so hard to build.
Our goal is simple: to help you receive the care you need while keeping as much of your home, savings, and independence as possible.
Questions We Often Hear
As care needs grow, new and sometimes urgent questions arise:
“Will Medicaid help?”
“How much can we keep?”
“Will we lose the house?”
At Solace Estate Planning, we guide families in Shaker Heights and surrounding communities through these challenges with steady, judgment-free support. You’ll understand your options for long-term care, learn how Medicaid works in Ohio, and choose asset protection steps that match your family’s values.
What is Medicaid Planning
Medicaid planning is the process of arranging your legal and financial affairs so you can qualify for long-term-care coverage when needed — while protecting as much of your savings as the law allows.
It’s not about hiding money or taking shortcuts. It’s about using lawful tools and clear strategy to:
- Pay for care without losing everything you’ve worked for.
- Protect a healthy spouse who remains at home.
- Maintain stability and dignity for your family during a difficult time.
Through thoughtful planning, you can preserve assets, avoid unnecessary spend-downs, and gain peace of mind knowing your care — and your loved ones — are protected.
Why Long-Term Care Planning Matters in Shaker Heights
Medicare does not cover extended nursing home stays. Private pay can drain savings quickly, often exceeding $10,000 per month in Ohio. Medicaid can help cover the cost of nursing homes and, in some cases, in-home and community-based care.
With a clear plan in place, you can qualify sooner and preserve more of what you’ve built.
Our goal is simple: care when you need it, protection where you can keep it, and peace of mind close to home.
How Medicaid Eligibility Works in Ohio
Medicaid looks at four key factors to determine eligibility: age, medical need, income, and assets.
- Age & Medical Need: You must be 65 or older, disabled, or require assistance with activities of daily living (like dressing, bathing, or eating).
- Income: Your monthly income must fall within Ohio’s limits, though certain income can be directed to qualified trusts when necessary.
- Assets: Some assets are “countable” (like checking accounts or investments) while others are “exempt” (like your primary home, vehicle, or personal belongings).
- Look-Back Period: Medicaid reviews certain transfers made within the past five years to ensure compliance with the rules. If you’ve moved assets without proper planning, it can delay eligibility or trigger penalties.
Understanding these rules is essential because Medicaid can help cover the high costs of long-term care, including nursing homes and, in some cases, care at home or in the community.
We translate these rules into clear, actionable steps and build a step-by-step plan that fits your situation — so you can plan ahead, protect what you’ve built, and move forward with confidence.
Asset Protection That Fits Your Life
You’ve worked hard for your savings, home, and independence. The right legal tools can help you qualify for Medicaid while protecting what your family needs.
Common goals we help local families address include:
- Paying for long-term care without spending down all savings
- Protecting the family home when possible under Ohio rules
- Keeping enough income for a healthy spouse to live with dignity
- Preserving a modest legacy for children or grandchildren
Your Personalized Asset Protection Analysis
Every family’s financial picture is unique. That’s why we start with a simple Asset Protection Worksheet to help you organize what you own and the risks you want to address.
From there, we prepare an Asset Protection Analysis Letter — a clear, plain-language summary that shows how your current assets would be treated if long-term care or a lawsuit became an issue, and what legal tools could strengthen your protection.
This process gives you an honest, customized roadmap before you decide on any planning steps — so you can move forward with confidence and no surprises.
Tools We May Use To Protect Assets
Good planning is personal, so the right tools depend on your comfort level, goals, and timing. We explain every tradeoff clearly before you decide — always in plain, practical language.
Helpful tools may include:
- Asset Protection Trusts to move savings, a home, or investments into a protected structure before the five-year look-back period
- Strategic transfers that comply with Ohio’s rules and timelines to preserve eligibility and reduce penalties
- Beneficiary updates to keep funds moving safely and avoid being counted as available assets
Help For Married Couples in Ohio
When one spouse needs care and the other remains at home, the law provides essential protections for the “community spouse.”
We explain how income allowances work, which assets can be retained, and how to structure accounts so both spouses remain financially stable.
Our focus is practical care today — and lasting security for tomorrow.
Powers Of Attorney And Health Care Documents
Paperwork should never slow down care.
A well-drafted Financial Power of Attorney allows someone you trust to pay bills, manage accounts, and complete Medicaid steps on your behalf.
A Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will ensure your wishes are known and name someone to communicate with doctors.
But it’s not just about naming someone — it’s about giving them both legal authority and clear instructions so they can act without confusion or conflict. With the right documents, your family can move quickly and avoid costly court delays.
The Application Process in Cuyahoga County
Medicaid applications are detailed, and accuracy matters. We help you:
- Prepare and organize the required records
- Complete and file your application with Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services
- Respond promptly to requests for verification
- Maintain copies and documentation for your records
If an appeal is needed, we handle it from start to finish — ensuring your rights are protected at every step.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Rushing into transfers, guessing on applications, or waiting too long to ask for help can lead to delays, penalties, or denials. We help you avoid these pitfalls by reviewing your full financial picture early, explaining which assets count, and setting a realistic timeline for your goals.
With Solace, you’ll always know what’s been done, what’s next, and why it matters.
Keeping Your Plan Current
Life changes — and your plan should, too. Keeping your plan up to date is critical.
Through our TLC™ Estate Plan Maintenance Program, we proactively review your plan when laws or strategies change. But even if you’re not, you can check in with us anytime.
Even if you’re not enrolled in ongoing maintenance, we encourage periodic reviews every three to five years or anytime a major life event occurs — like a home sale, new account, or change in health.
Our goal is an ongoing relationship, not a one-time transaction. We’re here whenever you need guidance or adjustments.
Guidance You Can Trust
Families throughout Shaker Heights and Northeast Ohio know that Solace Estate Planning is a team they can trust.
Even if you’re unsure where to start, we’ll meet you where you are, explain your options in clear language, and move at a pace that respects your time.
You’ll leave every meeting knowing what’s been done, what’s next, and why it matters.
Protect your savings. Plan for care. And move forward with peace of mind.
Protect your savings and plan for care with a local team that explains every step.
What To Bring To Your First Meeting
A simple list of income, accounts, and property
Any wills, trusts, or powers of attorney you already have
Contact information for key family members or caregivers