Medicaid is the government-funded program that pays nursing home care for individuals who qualify.  Medicaid pays for nearly half of all nursing home care on an aggregate basis, but many people who need long-term care never qualify for Medicaid assistance (1).  Medicaid also pays for some home- and community-based services.  To get Medicaid help, you must meet federal and state guidelines for income and assets.  Many people start paying for nursing home care out of their own funds and “spend down” their income until they are eligible for Medicaid.  Medicaid may then pay part or all of their nursing home costs.  You may have to use up most of your assets on your health care before Medicaid is able to help.  Some assets and income can be protected for a spouse who remains at home.  In addition, some of your assets may be protected if you have long-term care insurance approved under one of the state long-term care insurance partnership programs.State laws differ about how much money and assets you can keep and be eligible for Medicaid. So whether you live in Morgantown, West Virginia or Uniontown, Pennsylvania you will need to verify the specifice state laws.  (Some assets, such as your home, may not count when deciding if you are eligible for Medicaid.)  However, federal law requires your state to recover from your estate the costs of the Medicaid-paid benefits you receive (2). Please contact our office to learn about the rules in the States of West Virginia and/or Pennsylvania and how we can help you obtain Medicaid benefits.  Medicaid is complicated. We’re not. References:(1)   CMS National Health Expenditures, January 2002.  Medicaid pays for 48% of all nursing home care.(2)   Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA).  OBRA requires each state to have an “Estate Recovery Program,” which is designed to recover the costs of Medicaid-paid benefits from that person’s estate or the estate of his or her spouse.  If you are age 55 or over and receive Medicaid benefits for nursing home care and related services, OBRA requires that states recover the paid benefits in an amount equal to the total of the assistance provided from your estate.  This could include your home and any other property that otherwise would be passed to your heirs.