Your home receives special treatment under Medicaid rules, and owning a home does not automatically prevent someone from qualifying for long-term-care Medicaid. But, that does not necessarily mean the home is completely protected.

There is an important difference between a home being treated favorably when determining Medicaid eligibility and the home being protected from Medicaid estate recovery after death.

And that is why planning ahead can be so important.

Every day, family caregivers across North Carolina are quietly carrying an enormous responsibility. They are driving loved ones to doctor's appointments, managing medications, preparing meals, coordinating care, and trying to balance their own jobs, marriages, children, and health concerns. Most don't think of themselves as heroes. They're simply doing what needs to be done for someone they love.

When most people think about estate planning, they think about writing a will. It’s the tool we’ve all heard about—the magical document that ensures your family will be taken care of and your wishes will be honored after you’re gone. So, you write a will, sign it, tuck it away, and breathe a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, that’s where many people stop—and where many problems begin.