At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help families across Parkersburg and West Virginia protect the family home and savings when a parent enters a nursing home. If your mom or dad was just admitted after a fall, a stroke, or a dementia diagnosis, you are not too late.
Legal options often still exist even after admission, and helping families in exactly this moment is what we do. Since 2003, we have guided people through this same fear with plain answers and a flat fee, so you know the cost before you commit.
Medicaid planning is the legal, ethical work of arranging a person’s assets so they can qualify for Medicaid to cover nursing home care without losing everything first. It is not hiding money and it is not fraud. It uses the rules the state already allows to protect what a family has worked for, including the house.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Decennial Census, approximately 20.9% of West Virginia’s population was aged 65 or older, well above the national average of 16.8%. Families across Wood County face this crisis every day, often without knowing where to turn.
How West Virginia Medicaid Eligibility Works for Long-Term Care
West Virginia Medicaid pays for long-term care, but only if your parent’s income and savings fall under set limits. The program is run by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR).
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, an individual applicant for Medicaid long-term care coverage must have no more than $2,000 in countable resources and income at or below 300% of the federal SSI benefit rate.
Countable resources include cash and bank accounts. Exempt resources often include the family home and one car, so the house is not automatically lost.
The community spouse resource allowance (CSRA) lets a healthy spouse at home keep a share of the savings. The MMMNA protects a set amount of monthly income for that spouse. These rules shift often and depend on your exact facts, which is why a planning attorney who knows the DHHR process is worth the call.
The look-back period reviews the last 60 months of gifts and transfers before applying.
Our Medicaid Planning Services in Parkersburg
- Medicaid Planning and crisis planning, even after a parent has entered a nursing home
- Asset Protection strategies, including irrevocable Medicaid trusts that help shield the family home
- Spend-down planning to reach eligibility without losing more than the rules actually require
- Spousal protection using the CSRA and MMMNA rules that let a healthy spouse keep income and assets
- Powers of Attorney and healthcare directives coordinated with your Medicaid plan
- Trust drafting with hands-on help moving assets into the trust, not just paperwork you finish alone
- Coordination with your existing financial advisor, so you keep the people you already trust
- Flat-fee engagements with no recurring insurance-style fees, so the cost is clear from the start
WE WILL SPEAK FOR YOUR RIGHTS
Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your options. You may find that you are entitled to payment if your claim was denied or underpaid. Let Jarvis Law Office be your advocate
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Why Choose Jarvis Law Office in Parkersburg
Over 20 years handling elder law and Medicaid crises
Since 2003, we have guided families through exactly the moment you are in right now. This is not a side practice for us, and that experience means fewer surprises when the clock is running.
A team of 35+ professionals, not one overworked attorney
Urgent matters do not wait, so your case never sits on a single desk. You get real attention and quick answers even when the nursing home bill is already piling up.
One flat fee, decided up front
You will know the cost before you commit, with no hourly charges for every phone call or question. According to Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey, the national median annual cost of a private nursing home room reached $108,405, so the last thing you need is a surprise legal bill on top of that.
We do the hard part, not just the paperwork
Many families leave a lawyer’s office with a plan that never gets finished. We actively help move assets and complete the steps, so your plan actually protects what it is supposed to.
We explain it so you understand it
You should never feel lost in your own case. We walk you through what Medicaid requires and what your real options are, in everyday language.
Understanding Timing and Your Medicaid Planning Strategy
The moment planning starts changes what is possible. Families who plan years ahead have more tools. Families who call the day a parent enters a nursing home have fewer, but real options still exist. It is almost never too late to protect something.
Medicaid uses a 60-month look-back. That means the state reviews the last five years of gifts and transfers when someone applies. Planning earlier gives those transfers time to clear, which is why timing matters so much.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 70% of people who reach age 65 will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime. Proactive planning gives you more choices and lowers the risk of losing assets you did not have to lose.
Your strategy depends on your family’s specific situation, including:
- Whether the parent is married or single, since spousal rules differ.
- The type of care needed, nursing home versus home-based care.
- Asset makeup, including home equity, retirement accounts, vehicles, and life insurance.
- Income sources like Social Security and pension.
About Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
Jarvis Law Office has helped families protect what matters since May 2003. The firm handles elder law, Medicaid planning, and estate planning for people across the mid-Ohio Valley, including West Virginia and Ohio border communities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Wood County, home to Parkersburg, has roughly 83,000 residents, with nearly one in five aged 65 or older. That means a lot of local families face the same crisis you are facing right now.
With more than 35 professionals on staff, urgent matters get real attention instead of sitting on one overworked attorney’s desk.
The focus is practical. We help families avoid probate, protect the home where possible, and set up plans that actually get finished. Fees are flat and stated up front, so the cost is never a mystery.
Our Medicaid Planning Process for Parkersburg Families
1. First Phone Call
We start with a conversation about your parent’s situation, covering what they own, their monthly income, their health, and the care they need. No jargon, no pressure.
2. Eligibility Review
We check where things stand against Medicaid’s rules and identify any gaps. This is where you learn whether the family home is at risk and what can still be protected.
3. Your Options Explained
We walk you through your choices, whether your parent is already in a nursing home or you are planning ahead.
4. Drafting the Documents
Once you pick a plan, we prepare the documents it requires, such as trusts, powers of attorney, and a spend-down plan.
5. Hands-On Setup
We do not hand you a stack of forms and wish you luck. Our team helps retitle and move assets so the plan actually works.
6. Coordination and Ongoing Support
We work alongside your existing advisors and care providers, and we review the plan as your family’s needs change. Everything runs on one flat fee agreed up front, so you always know the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid Planning
Will I lose my parent’s home to Medicaid in West Virginia if they go into a nursing home?
Not automatically. The family home is usually an exempt asset while your parent is alive and on Medicaid, so it does not have to be sold to qualify. The bigger concern comes after death through WV estate recovery, but legal tools exist to protect the home.
Is it too late to do Medicaid planning if my mom is already in a nursing home?
No. Options often still exist even after admission, though the sooner you act, the more you can usually protect. Some planning steps only work before someone qualifies, so timing matters, but late is rarely hopeless.
Is Medicaid planning legal, or is it just hiding assets to cheat the system?
Medicaid planning is legal. It uses rules the state itself put in place to protect a spouse, a home, or a modest inheritance. Hiding money or lying on an application is fraud, and that is a completely different thing.
What is the West Virginia Medicaid look-back period, and can I just give money to my kids?
West Virginia uses a five-year look-back, meaning DHHR reviews the last 60 months of financial records when you apply. Gifts made in that window can trigger a penalty period where Medicaid will not pay.
What happens to my dad’s assets if my mom stays home while he is in the nursing facility?
The spouse living at home, called the community spouse, is allowed to keep a protected share of assets and income under WV rules. This prevents the at-home spouse from being left with nothing.
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid for nursing home costs?
Medicare only covers short-term rehab stays, usually up to 100 days, and never long-term nursing home care. Medicaid is the program that pays for ongoing nursing home costs once someone qualifies financially.
How much does a Medicaid planning attorney cost?
Jarvis Law Office uses a one-time flat fee, so you know the full cost up front with no hourly meter running on every question. That matters when money already feels tight from the nursing home bill.
Does West Virginia Medicaid take money from the estate after my parent dies?
West Virginia runs an estate recovery program that can seek repayment from a deceased person’s estate, including the home in some cases. It does not apply while a surviving spouse is living, and certain planning tools can shield the home in advance.
Can I meet with an attorney in the evening or by phone if I work shifts?
Yes. You can start with a phone call that fits around a work schedule, so you do not have to take a weekday off just to ask questions.
What Parkersburg Families Say About Jarvis Law Office
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” – Courtney P.
Families come in braced for stress and leave with the paperwork done and the pressure lifted.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” – Luke B.
Plain-language answers matter most when you are facing Medicaid rules for the first time.
“She was friendly, professional, and went above and beyond to help me… someone who genuinely cares.” – Nate T.
You are treated like a neighbor during a hard moment, not a case number.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” – MaryEllen G.
Two decades of practice means you are not trusting your parent’s home to a beginner.
“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.” – Courtney P.
The support does not stop once the plan is signed. The team stays available long after.
Local Resources in Parkersburg for Medicaid Planning
- Wood County Courthouse
Houses the circuit court and clerk’s office handling probate matters and estate filings. - Wood County Department of Health and Human Resources
State agency that processes benefit applications and determines eligibility for public assistance programs. - Wood County Clerk’s Office
Maintains official county records including deeds, wills, and property transfers. - Parkersburg Public Library
Provides public access to legal reference materials, government forms, and research resources. - Parkersburg Senior Center
Community hub offering services, referrals, and programming for older adults. - Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
Regional medical facility whose social work staff often coordinates long-term care and discharge planning. - Generations Home Care
Local home health agency providing in-home personal care and support services for aging adults. - West Virginia State Bar
Licenses and regulates attorneys practicing law throughout the state. - Wood County Assessor’s Office
Appraises and records real property values used in asset evaluations and transfers. - Social Security Administration, Parkersburg Field Office
Administers federal benefit programs including SSI and coordinates with state benefit agencies. - WV Bureau for Medical Services
State agency that administers the West Virginia Medicaid program and oversees eligibility determinations.
Start Your Medicaid Planning Conversation With a Parkersburg Attorney
Your parent just entered a nursing home, the daily bill is running, and you are afraid it is already too late to save the family home. It usually is not. Options often exist even after admission, and this is exactly the work we do every day for Wood County families.
Start with a free phone call. No pressure, no jargon, just a plain answer about where your family stands and what can still be protected. Evening and weekend times are available, so you do not have to trade a shift for the conversation.
We work on a one-time flat fee, so you know the cost before you commit. No hourly charges, no surprise bills.
Call us today to book your free phone call. The sooner you reach out, the more options you keep on the table.
