I have a living trust. Will a living trust protect my assets, including my home from a claim for reimbursement by the state?
Yes. The trust (if properly drafted and funded) will protect your assets from a Medi-Cal recovery lien under a new law effective January 1, 2017.
Do I need to sell the house to qualify for Medi-Cal?
No, under current rules the home is treated as an “exempt asset.” But, just because the home is “exempt” does not mean that California will not vigorously pursue recovery efforts and place a lien on the home. Legal strategies are available to protect against such a lien.
