Sometimes, we need to lean on others to help us. Many families on Long Island eventually face the need for daily support or round-the-clock medical care. Unfortunately, this care is not cheap. In some cases, Medicaid can cover these costs. However, because the program comes with strict financial eligibility requirements, many applicants worry about losing their savings, not qualifying for benefits, or not knowing where to begin. These are common fears, but we can bring you peace with solid legal strategies for qualifying for care. As an experienced Long Island elder law attorney, Andrew Lamkin helps families protect both their health and financial security.
At the Law Office of Andrew M. Lamkin, P.C., our highly experienced Long Island long-term care attorney focuses exclusively on estate planning matters and provides award-winning counsel. Our goal is simple: To give you peace of mind and help you protect both your health and your financial security.
Who Qualifies for Long-Term Care in New York?
Long-term care is the type of help you may need when you cannot perform daily tasks on your own, such as:
- Bathing,
- Dressing,
- Eating, or
- Moving around safely.
You can receive this care at home, in an assisted living community, or in a nursing home. Because long-term care can last for months or even years, the costs can quickly become overwhelming.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to individuals with limited income and assets and can help pay for long-term care in New York. It has specific rules for those who need long-term care, including nursing home care and home-based services.
Without proper planning, families can spend their entire life savings on long-term care. Planning ahead with a Long Island long-term care lawyer can make a difference.
Who Qualifies for Long-Term Care?
Medicaid for long-term care applies to older or disabled individuals and tends to have strict financial eligibility requirements. You must meet income and resource (asset) limits to qualify.
Income Limits
As of 2025, individuals applying for Medicaid must meet low yearly income requirements. A single adult cannot make more than $21,597 per year; this limit increases by approximately $7,500 for each additional adult in the household.
Resource Limits
In addition to income, Medicaid limits adults living alone to $32,396 in assets and $43,781 in assets for a household of two. Certain assets may be exempt, like your:
- Primary residence (up to a certain equity value),
- Personal belongings, and
- A car.
However, savings, retirement accounts, and other property are usually counted toward the limit. Also, the government looks extensively at your assets to determine your eligibility.
The Look-Back Period
New York applies a look-back period for Medicaid nursing home coverage. The program reviews your financial records for the five years before your application. If you give away money or transfer property for less than fair market value during that time, Medicaid may impose a penalty period where you are ineligible for coverage.
This rule makes early planning critical. The sooner you work with a Long Island Medicaid lawyer, the more options you will have to protect your assets and qualify for coverage when you need it most.
What If I Have Too Much Income or Too Many Assets?
Many worry they won’t qualify for Medicaid because they have too much income or assets. The good news is that the law provides planning tools to help you become eligible without losing everything you have worked for.
Medicaid Trusts
An irrevocable Medicaid trust is one of the most powerful tools for preserving your right to benefits. By placing assets into this type of trust, you can remove them from your “countable” resources for Medicaid purposes. After the assets have been in the trust for over five years, they get protection from the Medicaid look-back.
However, any payment you could receive from a standard irrevocable trust is still an asset under Medicaid eligibility rules. So, you need to be careful about how you create your trust and should talk to a knowledgeable Long Island long-term care lawyer about your options. For more than a decade, our Long Island long-term care attorney has guided families through Medicaid planning with compassion and clarity.
Special Needs Trusts
A special needs trust (or supplemental trust) can protect more of your property from becoming a countable asset when applying for Medicaid. Working with a knowledgeable Long Island special needs planning attorney ensures the trust is set up correctly and complies with New York’s complex Medicaid rules. These trusts are available to applicants who are disabled and under 65, and are exceptions to the Medicaid asset counting rules.
You can form this type of trust on your own or through one of the following:
- Legal guardians,
- Parents,
- Grandparents, or
- Courts.
A special needs trust must specify that when you die, the state will use the remainder of your trust assets to pay itself back for the Medicaid benefits provided.
Pooled Trusts
If you have a disability at any age, you, certain family members, a guardian, or the court can form a pooled trust. The trust, which a non-profit organization must manage, takes your assets out of countable resources under Medicaid. If you pass, the trust will use any remaining trust assets that the managing non-profit does not retain to pay the state back for the benefits it provided. These irrevocable trusts mean your home, savings, or investments can be preserved for your spouse, children, or other beneficiaries while still allowing you to qualify for the care you need.
Why Work with Long-Term Care Planning Attorneys?
Medicaid planning can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Skilled long term care planning attorneys understand how to use tools like Medicaid trusts, pooled trusts, and special needs trusts to safeguard your assets and prepare for future care. With the right strategy, you can qualify for benefits while keeping your home and savings secure for your loved ones.
Because every family’s needs are unique, working with an experienced Long Island long-term care planning attorney ensures your plan is tailored to your situation. From explaining complex rules to guiding you through each step, the right attorney makes the process clearer, less stressful, and more effective.
How Can a Long Island Long-Term Care Attorney Help Me?
When it comes to your health and finances, having the right Long Island long-term care attorney by your side can make all the difference.
A skilled attorney can:
- Explain the rules clearly,
- Protect your assets,
- Guide you through the application,
- Reduce stress, and
- Plan for the future.
We see ourselves as legal advisors and partners in one of life’s most challenging journeys. Our team takes the time to listen, answer questions, and guide you every step of the way. We know these conversations can feel overwhelming. Our role is to simplify the process, protect what you’ve worked hard for, and give you confidence that your loved ones will be cared for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Long-Term Care Planning
How much does long-term care cost in New York?
Costs vary depending on whether you need home care, assisted living, or nursing home care. In New York, nursing home care often exceeds $12,000 per month. Planning ahead can help protect your savings.
Can Medicaid take my house if I need nursing home care?
Your primary home may be exempt under certain Medicaid rules, but without planning, it could still be at risk after you pass away. A long-term care attorney can explain your options.
When should I start long-term care planning on Long Island?
The earlier, the better. New York’s five-year Medicaid look-back rule means planning in advance gives you more options to preserve assets.
Contact Us Today
Our highly experienced Long Island long-term care attorney has been helping families for more than 15 years. We focus exclusively on estate planning and Medicaid matters, giving you the peace of mind that your future is in knowledgeable, trusted hands. At the Law Office of Andrew M. Lamkin, P.C., we have one of the best long-term care planning attorneys in New York. With more than a decade of award-winning experience, we have helped countless families across Long Island navigate Medicaid and long-term care planning with confidence and compassion.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to plan. Contact the Law Office of Andrew M. Lamkin, P.C. today to speak with a trusted Long Island long term care attorney. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that protects your assets, secures your care, and gives your family peace of mind.
Resources: