At Brumbaugh Law Firm, we help Ohio families protect the family home and savings when a parent enters a nursing home.
We have guided families through Medicaid and long-term care planning since 2002, serving Ashland County and surrounding communities. As an Ohio NAELA member with a 5.0-star rating, we bring steady, plain-language guidance to families facing a crisis right now.
About 19.2% of Ashland County residents are age 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Decennial Census, well above the national average. We offer phone and video appointments so you do not have to take a day off work or drive across the state.
What Families Say About Brumbaugh Law Firm
“We were going to lose our house, cars, everything… we were able to keep our house and cars.” John W
This is exactly the outcome most families are afraid they can’t get once a parent enters care.
“Michael was so helpful in explaining issues in a way that we could understand… without a doubt, he puts his heart into his work.” David H
Plain-language guidance matters when you’re facing Medicaid rules for the first time.
“He took care of everything… He’s a very caring person.” Robert S
A steady hand through a complicated system takes the weight off a stressed family.
“A huge burden off of our shoulders and our children’s plates.” James & Linda T.
Peace of mind is often what families need most in the middle of a crisis.
“Even today, I know if I should ever need further assistance, I can call and be treated wonderfully well.” Karen B
The relationship doesn’t end when the paperwork does.
How Ohio Medicaid Crisis Planning Works
Medicaid is the government program that pays for long-term nursing home care once someone qualifies. Crisis planning is what we do when a parent is already in care and the family needs answers fast. It works within Ohio’s rules, not around them.
According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2023, the average annual nursing home cost in Ohio is about $97,820 per year for a semi-private room. That is why families in a placement crisis have little time before savings are gone.
- Ohio counts most assets, but some, like a family home, may be exempt.
- Ohio uses a 60-month look-back, meaning past gifts and transfers are reviewed.
- If a spouse remains at home, the community spouse (the husband or wife not in care) may keep a protected share of income and assets.
The county Job and Family Services office processes applications, but it does not build a plan to protect what you have. That is where focused legal guidance makes the difference. We help Ashland County families sort this out by phone or video, so no one loses a day of work.
Our Medicaid Crisis Planning Services in Ashland
- Emergency Medicaid eligibility check to see where your parent stands right now
- Full review of assets and income to plan the spend-down (using savings down to Ohio’s limits before Medicaid pays for care)
- Structuring exempt asset conversions like home repairs, a prepaid funeral, or a vehicle so money is not simply lost
- Strategies focused on protecting the family home
- Spousal protection planning under Ohio’s CSRA and MMMNA rules, which let the at-home spouse (the community spouse) keep a share of income and assets
- Preparation and filing of your Ohio Medicaid long-term care application
- Coordination with the nursing facility and Ashland County Job and Family Services so you are not left decoding conflicting information
- Review of past transfers and gifts for look-back compliance (Ohio checks the five years before you apply)
- Guidance on Medicaid-compliant annuities when they fit your situation
- Power of attorney and guardianship review to confirm someone has legal authority to act
- Estate recovery planning to help protect what your parent worked to pass down
Get Trusted Legal Support Today
For straightforward legal advice and representation, contact Brumbaugh Law. Call (419) 504-4674 to schedule your consultation.
Why Choose Brumbaugh Law Firm for Medicaid Crisis Planning in Ashland
23+ years of Ohio Medicaid and long-term care planning
Since 2002, we have focused on helping Ohio families through exactly this kind of crisis. This is not something we dabble in. More than 100,000 Ohioans relied on Medicaid-funded long-term care in state fiscal year 2022, according to the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
Ohio NAELA membership
We are a member of Ohio NAELA, a recognized organization for elder law attorneys in this state, reflecting real peer-recognized depth in Medicaid and long-term care planning.
Education first, so you understand before you decide
We explain your options in plain language before you commit to anything. Under crisis time pressure, understanding your choices matters more than ever.
Fully implemented plans, not half-finished paperwork
Medicaid applications carry hard deadlines. We do not leave families with a plan that sits unfinished. We carry it through.
A+ BBB rating and a 5.0-star review record
We hold BBB A+ accreditation and a 5.0-star rating from Ohio families we have served. Phone and video appointments are available so you do not have to take a day off work.
What Determines How Much of Your Family’s Assets Can Be Protected in an Ohio Medicaid Crisis
Married or single. This changes everything. When one spouse enters a nursing home, the spouse who stays at home is called the community spouse. That spouse is allowed to keep a share of the couple’s assets, called the CSRA. Ohio measures your countable assets on a snapshot date, and that date sets the amount the community spouse can keep.
According to the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s 2025 spousal impoverishment standards, the community spouse monthly income allowance ranges from $2,644 to $3,948, and the specific allowable asset amount can vary based on a couple’s total countable resources at the snapshot date.
The following are all things that must be considered:
- Countable versus exempt assets. Cash and most savings count. A primary home, one vehicle, a prepaid funeral, and personal belongings are usually exempt.
- Past gifting. Money or property given away in the five year look back period can trigger a penalty.
- Property in a trust, the type of trust, and the timing of setting it up and transferring assets into the trust all matter.
- A caregiver child who has lived in and helped in the home.
- Ohio’s Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, which can affect what heirs receive.
Acting sooner usually preserves more options. The earlier you get Medicaid crisis planning guidance, the more the law lets you work with and typically keep.
About Brumbaugh Law Firm
Brumbaugh Law Firm has helped Northern Ohio families through nursing home and Medicaid situations since 2002, with more than 23 years focused on Medicaid and long-term care planning. We serve Ashland County and surrounding communities, including Sandusky and Erie County.
Our approach is simple: we teach you first. Before anyone commits to anything, we make sure you understand your options in plain language, including through free community workshops like our ‘3 Secrets of Estate Planning and Asset Protection.’
We build plans that are finished and funded, not half-done paperwork that leaves you exposed. We stay out of high-conflict court battles so your family can focus on care.
Our Process for Ashland County Families
1. Crisis Consultation
We start by learning your situation. What kind of care your parent needs, what they own, their income, and who is in the family. Available by phone or video, so no long drive.
2. Eligibility and Asset Review
We sort out which assets Medicaid counts and which are protected, including the family home. We check for look-back exposure (Medicaid reviews the past five years of transfers) and any protections for a community spouse (a husband or wife still living at home).
3. Strategy Presentation
We explain your legal options in plain language before you commit to anything. You decide once you understand the choices.
4. Plan Implementation
We put the plan to work. This can include preparing the application and drafting needed documents so nothing is left half-done.
5. Application Filing and Coordination
We file with the county and respond to their requests. According to the Ohio Department of Medicaid, a long-term care application can take up to 45 days, or 90 days when disability must be determined, so acting fast matters. In our experience, some counties are taking much, much longer to process applications.
6. Post-Approval Follow-Through
After approval, we review your patient pay amount and help with what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid Crisis Planning
Can I still protect assets if my loved one just entered a nursing home, or is it too late to do anything?
It is not too late. Even after a parent enters a nursing home, legal strategies under Ohio Medicaid rules may still protect a portion of the family’s assets, but it takes action on your part to make this happen.
What is the difference between Medicaid crisis planning and regular Medicaid planning?
Regular Medicaid planning happens years ahead, when there is time to act slowly. Crisis planning happens when a parent is already in a nursing home or about to be, and the clock is running.
What is the Ohio Medicaid look-back period, and does it block all planning?
The look-back period is the five years of financial history Ohio reviews when you apply for long-term care Medicaid. Gifts or transfers made during that window can cause a penalty delay. It does not block all planning, though.
What happens to our house if my parent goes on Medicaid in Ohio?
Ohio does not force the sale of a family home just because a parent qualifies for Medicaid. In many cases, the home can be protected while your parent gets care.
What is Ohio MERP, and can it take my family’s home after my parent passes away?
MERP stands for the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. After a Medicaid recipient dies, Ohio can seek repayment from their estate, which may include the home.
How much can my spouse keep if my other parent enters a nursing home in Ohio?
Ohio lets the spouse who stays home, called the community spouse, keep a protected share of the couple’s assets. This is known as the CSRA, or Community Spouse Resource Allowance.
What is a spend-down, and how does it actually work in Ohio?
A spend-down means reducing your parent’s countable assets to meet Ohio’s Medicaid limit before they qualify. Many families assume this means draining everything on nursing home bills. It does not have to.
Do I need a power of attorney in place before we can start planning?
A financial power of attorney, or POA, makes crisis planning much smoother because it lets someone act on the parent’s behalf. If your parent can still make decisions, one can often be put in place quickly.
Can a Medicaid crisis planning attorney really help if we have not done any planning at all?
Yes. Most families we help have done zero planning and are learning these words for the first time. At Brumbaugh Law Firm, we walk families through exactly this moment in plain language.
Is the county Job and Family Services office enough, or do I still need an attorney?
Ashland County DJFS processes the Medicaid application, but their job is not to help you protect assets. They will not tell you which legal strategies could save the house or the savings.
Local Resources in Ashland For Medicaid Crisis Planning
- Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services
Processes Medicaid applications, including aged, blind, disabled, nursing-home, and long-term-care Medicaid benefits.
- Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal
Allows residents to apply for, renew, and manage Medicaid and other public benefits online.
- Ashland County Council on Aging
Provides transportation, nutrition assistance, referrals, and support for adults age 60 and older.
- Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging
Connects seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers with long-term-care programs, in-home assistance, benefits counseling, and care-planning resources.
- Region 5 Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Advocates for residents in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and other long-term-care settings.
- Ashland County Probate Court
Handles guardianships, estates, trusts, and related proceedings involving older adults and vulnerable individuals.
- Ashland County Adult Protective Services
Investigates suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and unsafe living conditions involving vulnerable adults.
- Ohio Department of Medicaid
Provides guidance on Medicaid eligibility, applications, renewals, coverage, and long-term-care programs.
- Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Helps resolve nursing-home complaints, care concerns, provider disputes, and resident-rights issues.
- Ashland County Clerk of Courts
Maintains court records and filings that may relate to civil, financial, or legal matters affecting Medicaid planning.
Talk to an Ashland Medicaid Crisis Planning Attorney Before Time Runs Out
We have helped Ohio families through this for more than 23 years. We serve Ashland County and surrounding communities, and phone and video appointments are available so you do not have to take a day off work.
Call us today. We handle Medicaid crisis situations and can help you figure out your next step.
Not sure where to start? Ask about our free information call and free educational workshops. Getting informed comes first. No pressure, no commitment.
