Taking the First Step in Medicaid Planning: A Brooklyn Family's Guide to Protecting What Matters Most

I still remember Maria's voice trembling on the phone last spring. "My mother just fell," she told me. "The hospital says she'll need long-term care, and I have no idea where to start. Will we lose her house? Everything she worked for?"

If you're reading this, you might be feeling that same knot in your stomach. Maybe you've just realized that long-term care costs could wipe out everything you've built. Or perhaps you've watched a neighbor or family member lose their life savings to nursing home expenses, and you're determined not to let that happen to your family.

Here's what I want you to know: taking action today—even if it's just one small step—is infinitely better than waiting until a crisis forces your hand. And that first step? It's simpler than you might think.

Why Your First Move Matters More Than You Realize

Let me be honest with you. The biggest mistake I see families make isn't choosing the wrong strategy or missing some obscure legal detail. It's waiting too long to start planning at all.

Every week, someone walks into our Brooklyn office saying, "I wish I'd known about this five years ago." Why five years? Because that's Medicaid's infamous "look-back period"—the window during which any asset transfers you make could affect your eligibility for benefits.

Think of Medicaid planning like winterizing your home. You wouldn't wait until the first blizzard to check your heating system or seal the windows. The same principle applies here. The earlier you start, the more options you have and the better protected you'll be when you actually need care.

Understanding What You're Really Protecting

Before we talk about strategies, let's be clear about what's at stake. When I sit down with families in Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island, they're not just worried about numbers on a bank statement. They're worried about:

The family home where you raised your children and celebrated countless birthdays, holidays, and Sunday dinners. For most middle-income families, your home represents the largest asset you own—and nursing home costs can quickly put it at risk.

Your independence and choices. Nobody wants to be a burden on their children. Proper planning means you'll have options when you need care, rather than being at the mercy of whatever Medicaid-approved facility has an open bed.

Your children's inheritance. You've worked hard your entire life. The thought of watching those savings disappear to pay for care—when proper planning could have preserved them for your kids—keeps many people awake at night.

Peace of mind for your whole family. When you have a plan in place, your adult children won't face impossible decisions during an already stressful medical crisis.

Your First Step: Getting Clear on Where You Stand

Here's where to begin: take stock of what you actually have. I know this sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many people don't have a clear picture of their complete financial situation.

Grab a notebook or open a spreadsheet and make a list of everything you own:

• Your home (and its current market value)

• Bank accounts—checking, savings, CDs

• Retirement accounts—IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions

• Investment accounts

• Life insurance policies (particularly those with cash value)

• Real estate beyond your primary home

• Business interests

• Vehicles

Don't worry about being exact to the penny. What matters is getting a realistic overview of your assets. This snapshot becomes the foundation for everything else.

Next, understand the basic Medicaid rules. In New York, a single person can typically have no more than $30,182 in countable assets to qualify for long-term care Medicaid (this figure adjusts annually). For married couples, the rules are more complex, but the healthy spouse can generally keep around $154,140 in assets while the spouse needing care qualifies for benefits.

Notice I said "countable" assets. Some things don't count toward these limits:

• Your primary residence (with certain equity limits)

• One vehicle

• Personal belongings and household goods

• Certain life insurance policies

• Prepaid, irrevocable funeral arrangements

Understanding what counts and what doesn't helps you see the real gap between where you are now and where you need to be to qualify for Medicaid—if and when you need it.

The Power of Professional Guidance

Here's what Maria learned when she finally came to see us: taking that first step doesn't mean you need to have all the answers. It means recognizing that you need help navigating a complex system with high stakes.

During our initial consultation, we discovered her mother's situation wasn't as dire as she feared. Yes, there were challenges. But because Maria reached out when she did—not five years earlier, but not five years later either—we had options.

We were able to help her understand which of her mother's assets were already protected, identify strategic moves that could preserve more of the estate, and create a plan that ensured her mother would receive quality care without completely depleting her life savings.

That's what a good elder law attorney does. We don't just push documents across a desk. We listen to your unique situation, understand your goals and concerns, and craft a personalized strategy that makes sense for your family.

Common Questions I Hear From Families Just Starting Out

"Is it too late if I'm already in my 70s or 80s?"

Not at all. While earlier is always better because of that five-year look-back period, there are still strategies available to protect assets even when time is short. Some planning tools work immediately, and we can often find creative solutions even in urgent situations.

"Won't Medicaid just take everything anyway?"

This is the myth that keeps people up at night—and it's simply not true. With proper planning, families can protect significant assets legally and ethically. Medicaid planning isn't about hiding assets or gaming the system. It's about using legal tools and strategies that Congress and state legislatures specifically created to help families.

"How much does Medicaid planning cost?"

This varies based on your situation's complexity, but consider this: the average cost of a nursing home in New York is over $160,000 per year. Even if planning services cost several thousand dollars, they typically save families many times that amount. Think of it as insurance for your life savings.

"Can't I just give everything to my kids now?"

Please don't do this without professional guidance. Simple gifting creates all sorts of problems: tax consequences, vulnerability to your children's creditors or divorces, and potential Medicaid penalties. There are much better ways to transfer assets that protect everyone involved.

The Emotional Side Nobody Talks About

Let me share something that doesn't get discussed enough: starting Medicaid planning often brings up difficult emotions. You might feel scared about your own mortality, guilty about potentially "spending down" assets meant for your children, or overwhelmed by legal jargon you don't understand.

These feelings are completely normal. Every person who walks through our door at Alatsas Law Firm experiences some version of this emotional roller coaster.

But here's what happens when you take that first step: the anxiety starts to lift. Not completely, not immediately—but gradually. Because knowledge replaces fear, and action replaces helplessness.

After we met with Maria and her mother, Maria told me she slept through the night for the first time in weeks. Not because all their problems were solved instantly, but because they finally had a roadmap forward and someone in their corner who understood the system.

What Actually Happens During Your First Meeting

If you're nervous about reaching out to an attorney, let me walk you through what typically happens. There's no pop quiz, no judgment, and absolutely no pressure.

During an initial consultation, we'll talk about your family situation: who needs care (or might need it soon), what assets you have, what your goals are, and what keeps you awake at night with worry. We'll explain the Medicaid rules in plain English, discuss strategies that might work for your situation, and outline the steps involved in creating a comprehensive plan.

Most importantly, you'll leave with clarity. Even if you decide not to move forward right away, you'll understand your options and know what you need to think about. That's valuable in itself.

Taking Your First Step Today

So what should you actually do right now, today, to start protecting your assets?

First, gather information about your assets as I described earlier. Having this list ready will make any professional consultation much more productive.

Second, educate yourself. Request one of our free guides on Medicaid planning (we have several specifically addressing asset protection strategies). Understanding the basics helps you ask better questions and make more informed decisions.

Third, attend one of our estate planning and Medicaid workshops. These educational sessions are designed specifically for families like yours—middle-income Brooklyn residents who want to protect what they've worked hard to build. You'll learn about strategies, hear real examples, and have a chance to ask questions in a no-pressure environment.

Finally, schedule a consultation. Even if you're not ready to implement a full plan, getting professional advice about your specific situation is invaluable. We can help you understand what timeline makes sense for your family and what actions to prioritize.

The Brooklyn Advantage: Local Knowledge Matters

Planning for Medicaid isn't just about understanding federal rules—it's about knowing how things actually work in New York, in the New York City metro area, and specifically in Brooklyn where we practice. The cost of care varies by location. The quality of available facilities differs. Even the processing of Medicaid applications can work differently from one county to another.

When you work with an attorney who lives and practices in your community, who has relationships with local nursing homes and understands the unique challenges facing middle-income families in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, you get more than legal advice. You get a guide who knows the terrain.

Since 1996, I've helped hundreds of local families navigate Medicaid planning successfully. I've seen firsthand how the right strategy at the right time can mean the difference between losing everything and preserving a legacy for the next generation.

Your Family Deserves a Plan

Remember Maria, whose story opened this article? Her mother is now in a quality care facility, receiving the help she needs. And thanks to the planning we implemented, a significant portion of her assets were preserved for Maria and her siblings.

But here's the thing: that outcome wasn't the result of some fancy legal trick or last-minute miracle. It happened because Maria took that crucial first step—reaching out for help before it was too late.

Your situation is different from Maria's. Your assets, your family dynamics, your concerns and goals—they're all unique to you. But the principle remains the same: taking action now, even if it's just gathering information or scheduling a conversation, puts you on the path to protecting what matters most.

The long-term care crisis facing our aging population isn't going away. Nursing home costs will continue rising. The need for planning will only become more urgent. But your ability to do something about it starts right now, with one simple step forward.

What will yours be?

If you're ready to start protecting your family's assets and securing your future, I invite you to reach out to Alatsas Law Firm. Schedule a free consultation, request one of our comprehensive guides, or register for an upcoming workshop. Let's work together to transform your worry into a concrete plan—and help you sleep soundly again.

Your family's financial security and your personal legacy are too important to leave to chance. Take that first step today.