Most people do not think about Medicaid until they need it. By then, they are often facing a nursing home admission, a dementia diagnosis, or the sudden loss of a spouse’s ability to provide care at home. At that point, the options available for Medicaid planning may be limited.
Although it can feel uncomfortable in the moment, the better approach is to plan well before a crisis. If you or a loved one is approaching retirement age or managing a chronic health condition, now is the right time to speak with a Medicaid planning attorney near you. At Brockstedt Mandalas Federico, our Delaware elder law attorneys help individuals and families understand their options before urgency takes over.
Medicaid Planning in Delaware: Why Timing Matters
If you’re considering Medicaid planning in Delaware, here is what our elder law attorneys think is most important to understand.
- Medicaid planning is the process of legally structuring your finances to meet eligibility requirements while still protecting assets for a spouse or family members, and the national median cost of a private nursing home room exceeds $100,000 per year.
- Delaware's five-year look-back rule means the state reviews financial transactions going back five years when you apply, and gifts or transfers made during that window can create a penalty period.
- Strategies that work well before a crisis may not be available once care is already needed, which is why starting the conversation early, rather than waiting for a diagnosis or hospitalization, matters so much.
- Delaware law allows a community spouse who remains at home to retain a certain level of assets and income, and knowing how to use those protections correctly is part of what a Medicaid planning attorney does.
What Is Medicaid Planning?
Medicaid planning is the process of legally structuring your finances to meet Medicaid eligibility requirements while also protecting assets for a spouse, family members, or other purposes. Because Medicaid has strict income and asset limits, many people assume they will not qualify. In reality, proper planning can make Medicaid accessible while preserving a meaningful portion of what you have worked to build.
Long-term care Medicaid in Delaware is primarily designed to cover nursing home and skilled care costs. Without it, those costs can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings. The national median cost of a private room in a nursing facility exceeds $100,000 per year, and Delaware costs reflect a similar reality.
The Five-Year Look-Back Rule
One of the most critical elements of Medicaid planning is understanding Delaware’s five-year look-back period. When you apply for long-term care Medicaid, the state reviews all financial transactions going back five years. Gifts, asset transfers, and certain other moves made during that window can result in a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for care.
This is why early planning matters so much. Strategies that can be implemented several years before care is needed may not be available once a crisis is already underway. An experienced Medicaid planning attorney can help you understand what is and is not permissible, and structure a plan that works within the rules.
The Best Time to Plan Is Before You Think You Need To
It’s natural to put off thinking about Medicaid until a crisis forces the issue, but by then your options are often limited. Our Delaware elder law attorneys can help you understand Medicaid planning now, while you still have time and choices, so your family isn’t left scrambling later.
Schedule A ConsultationMedicaid Eligibility and Dementia Planning
For families navigating a dementia diagnosis, Medicaid planning takes on additional urgency. Dementia is progressive, and the care needs and associated costs increase over time. Many families begin with home-based care, then transition to memory care facilities, and eventually require full nursing home placement. Planning across that entire continuum requires a long-term strategy.
Dementia planning also involves ensuring that legal documents — powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and potentially a trust — are in place while the individual still has legal capacity to execute them. Waiting too long can limit the planning options available and create complications for the family.
Protecting Your Spouse and Your Assets
Delaware law provides important protections for a community spouse, meaning a husband or wife who remains living at home while the other enters a nursing facility. These rules allow the community spouse to retain a certain level of assets and income. Knowing and using these protections correctly is part of what a long-term care planning attorney does.
Beyond spousal protections, there are other legal tools, including certain types of trusts, that may be appropriate depending on your situation, timeline, and goals.
Talk to a Medicaid Planning Attorney in Delaware
If you are looking for the best elder law attorney near you to guide Medicaid planning, our team at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico is here to help. We serve clients across Delaware from our offices in Wilmington, Dover, Lewes, and Georgetown. Contact us at 302-327-1100 or visit our contact page today to schedule a consultation and start building a plan that protects your family’s future.
Meet the Attorney Behind Delaware’s Early Medicaid Planning Guidance
Michele L. Muldoon
Partner — Estates & Trusts, Elder Law
As the author of this guide and a partner at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico, Michele brings more than two decades of experience helping Delaware families start Medicaid planning early, well before a health crisis limits their options. Her practice has grown almost entirely through client referrals, a reflection of the detail-oriented, approachable guidance she is known for.
Bar Admissions & Credentials
- Delaware State Bar, admitted 2004
- J.D., Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
- B.A., English, University of Delaware
- Chair, Delaware State Bar Association – Elder Law Section
- Board of Directors, Delaware CarePlan
- Member, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)