Dallas-Fort Worth Medicaid Attorneys

Protect Your Finances: Plan for Nursing Home Costs Today

Whether you’re planning years in advance, preparing for a future transition, or facing an immediate need, now is the right time to consider nursing home costs and how Medicaid assistance can support your long-term financial health. Many Americans live past age 79, and without careful planning, families often struggle to cover nursing home expenses from admission through end of life. 

Contact our Dallas-Fort Worth Medicaid lawyers by calling (972) 945-1610 today!

What to Expect

Navigating Medicaid eligibility and benefits can be overwhelming without the right guidance. Our team at Crain & Wooley provides informed counsel on Medicaid matters through a flat-rate service model. This flat fee of $9,750 covers our work on your case as we develop strategies to protect your assets and reach your Medicaid goals. To begin, we collect the first half of your fee to start asset preservation, ensuring eligibility and income requirements are met. After completing the asset spend-down plan and receiving your approval, we collect the second half of the fee and move forward with the Medicaid application process.

Many clients want clear guidance on what happens next. We meet one-on-one with each family to organize documentation, evaluate assets, and outline every step of the planning process from the start. Because timing is key when submitting a Texas Medicaid application, we maintain open, step-by-step communication so you know where you are in the process. In Tarrant County and throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth region, our Medicaid planning attorneys remain accessible for both in-person and virtual meetings.

Understanding Medicaid vs. Medicare: Key Differences Explained

People often mix up the differences between Medicaid and Medicare, which are two major government healthcare programs. While both receive federal funding, Medicaid is run by states and differs by location. Medicaid serves people with limited means, while Medicare covers those age 65 and over or those with certain disabilities, regardless of income.

In Texas, Medicaid can pay for long-term nursing home care if applicants meet income and asset criteria. Medicare only pays for short-term rehabilitation in nursing facilities and will not cover ongoing stays. Understanding these two programs helps families in Dallas–Fort Worth plan for long-term care and create strategies that maximize benefits.

Common Conditions That May Require Medicaid Assistance

• Parkinson’s disease
• MS / Multiple Sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s and early-onset Alzheimer’s
• Dementia and early-onset dementia
• ALS / Lou Gehrig’s Disease
• Long-term rehabilitation

Every year, families across Fort Worth and Dallas seek help after a loved one receives these diagnoses. Early Medicaid planning relieves stress if someone moves to a local care facility. We approach your health information with confidentiality and care, helping you assess which Medicaid resources fit your needs now and in the future.

Can I Afford Nursing Home Care Without Going Bankrupt?

You may have heard of “nursing home poverty”. Without proper Medicaid planning, many families face this reality. The average cost of a nursing home in Texas runs $6,000 per month. While these figures feel overwhelming, our clients can access Medicaid support to help manage these costs.

In Fort Worth, nursing home expenses sometimes exceed the Texas average, particularly in certain neighborhoods. Working with a Medicaid planning attorney in Tarrant County helps you identify facility rates in your area and understand how Medicaid can help offset the out-of-pocket portion. Each client’s financial situation is unique. We craft asset protection plans for your ideal care setting, accounting for local Dallas–Fort Worth market rates and current Texas regulations.

Eligibility Requirements: Do I Qualify for Medicaid?

To qualify for Medicaid, you must pass both income and asset tests. These qualifications can change based on marital status, each spouse's medical needs, the types of assets you own, and the jurisdiction of those assets. Because these requirements shift with personal circumstances, we work with clients to create a proactive, transparent plan that preserves the maximum amount while still helping you qualify for needed benefits.

For long-term Medicaid in Texas, the state uses a five-year “look-back” period on asset transfers. Any gifts or transfers within that time frame could lead to penalties or delay your benefits. This look-back rule means that effective asset management should begin well before an application. Our Medicaid planning attorneys will review your financial records to help pinpoint which steps improve eligibility. In Fort Worth and nearby counties, income and asset thresholds follow annually updated Texas Health & Human Services rules. We review all current guidelines with you and your family to map out the best course forward.

Can Medicaid Claim My House After I Pass Away?

Thanks to MERP (Medicaid Estate Recovery Program), the Texas government may seek repayment from the estate of a deceased nursing home resident who received Medicaid benefits. By working with an estate planning attorney who understands the Medicaid system, you may be able to keep your primary home out of the state’s recovery reach in certain situations.

Texas law provides homestead protections and, under certain conditions, your home may not be subject to Medicaid estate recovery. We explain when your primary residence could qualify as exempt and detail the legal steps to document your plan within Texas property regulations. Our team stays current with any updates to state policies that could affect estate recovery or property transfers, so you can plan confidently for your family’s future.

When Should I Start Planning for a Nursing Home Stay?

Time matters when you make decisions about long-term care. You need a plan at least five years before applying for Medicaid if you want to protect as many assets as possible. Starting early opens up more asset preservation strategies.

If your timeframe is less than five years, we outline emergency Medicaid planning options for Texas that can minimize resource loss. Many Dallas–Fort Worth families benefit from last-minute strategies that address immediate eligibility and still safeguard a significant portion of their wealth. Whether you are in Fort Worth, Dallas, or a nearby community, we offer Medicaid solutions tailored to your personal timeline and local care environment using tools recognized by Texas Health & Human Services.

If you are looking at a transition sooner than five years, Crain & Wooley can also help you create an emergency nursing home plan. An emergency plan cannot protect all assets, but we can protect a significant portion.

Why You Need Legal Assistance for Adult Medicaid Qualification

People are often baffled by the complex world of Medicaid applications when faced with a medical emergency that requires nursing home care or in-patient treatment. An attorney who is familiar with Medicaid eligibility is a great source of assistance to decipher such complexities, including how to proceed in cases of unanticipated nursing home care.

A Medicaid planning lawyer can help ensure the following issues are properly handled:

• Crafting your monthly income to fit below the $2,250 income cap
• Structuring a plan to keep your total available resources below the $2,000 limit
• Addressing real estate to avoid Medicaid recovery claims after you pass away

Contact our Texas law firm at (972) 945-1610 for help in Plano or Mansfield.

Explore More: Related Readings on Medicaid and Elder Law

• Paying for Elder Care: Private Financing vs Medicaid
• Does Medicaid Cover Nursing Home Expenses
• Medicaid Can Take Assets after Death

Let Our Dallas-Fort Worth Medicaid Team Provide Peace of Mind

Each of these concerns is real, but you don’t have to face them alone. At Crain & Wooley, we strive to stay ahead in estate planning law, so you experience more peace of mind and security in every phase of life.

Choosing our attorneys connects you to a local team invested in your long-term well-being. Our accreditations with NAELA, ElderCounsel, and Texas Bar College reflect rigorous standards for continuing education, planning methods, and ethical practice. We support clear flat-rate pricing, transparent updates, and options for ongoing document reviews, building lasting relationships founded on communication and trust. These foundations matter as the laws shift and your circumstances change.

Because Medicaid eligibility rules change with regularity, families in Texas often struggle to secure assets and maintain long-term care options. Our planning approach helps you protect what matters most, no matter the challenges ahead.

If you have more questions for our lawyers about nursing home planning or adult Medicaid, then please fill out our online scheduler or give us a call at (972) 945-1610 to request a consultation.