One of the biggest fears families have when facing long-term care is losing their home.

The good news is that entering a nursing home does not automatically mean the home must be sold.

When the Home Is Considered Exempt

In many cases, a primary residence is not counted as a Medicaid asset if certain conditions are met. For example, the home may remain exempt if:

• The individual intends to return home
• A spouse continues living in the home
• Certain family members reside in the property

Because of these rules, many Medicaid applicants are able to qualify without selling their homes.

Estate Recovery After Death

Although the home may be exempt during the individual’s lifetime, Pennsylvania may seek reimbursement from the estate after death through a process called Medicaid estate recovery.

This means the state may attempt to recover certain long-term care costs from assets remaining in the person’s estate.

Planning Strategies

Families often use planning strategies to reduce the risk of losing the home, including:

• Proper estate planning
• Certain trust arrangements
• Property ownership structures

Planning ahead is critical because Medicaid has strict rules about asset transfers.

Understanding how these rules apply can help families protect their home while still accessing necessary care.