At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help Ohio families protect a parent’s home and savings, and the spouse at home, when a nursing home admission or dementia diagnosis comes with little warning. We have guided families through Ohio’s Medicaid rules since May 2003, and our 39-person team across three offices can move quickly when the nursing home bill is already running.
Crisis Medicaid planning is lawful planning that starts after care is already needed. We identify what Ohio rules let the family keep and file for Medicaid long-term care so coverage can begin as soon as possible. It differs from planning years in advance, but the first steps in a crisis can start now.
Under Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5160:1-6-06, Ohio reviews asset transfers made during the 60 months before a long-term care Medicaid application. Transfers for less than fair market value in that window can trigger a restricted coverage period. This 60-month window is the look-back period.
Why Families Choose Jarvis Law Office In Ohio
Hands-On Help Moving Assets
Our team retitles accounts and moves assets into trusts, so you are not left with unfinished paperwork while the nursing home bill keeps running.
Plain Answers You Can Act On
We explain the five-year look-back and what the spouse at home can keep in everyday words, with clear written next steps.
A Team Built for Urgent Cases
With 39 team members across three offices, an urgent admission does not wait on one attorney’s calendar.
Your Financial Advisor Stays in the Picture
We work alongside your CPA or financial advisor. They know the accounts, and we handle the Medicaid and legal side.
23 Years Serving Ohio Families
We have practiced since May 2003. Our attorneys are licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio and are active members of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Support Beyond the Application
We stay with your family as care needs change.
What Clients Say About Crisis Medicaid Planning In Ohio
“I truly appreciate his dedication, clear communication, and support during a stressful time.”, Thomas S.
“Nicole was very patient and thorough while explaining answers to my queries which is very much appreciated.”, Rick C.
“Dana was personable and a delight to work with. I was very comfortable sharing information with her.”, Linda J.
“…she was very knowledgeable. Friendly and really knew what she was talking about.”, Raenel E.
“We have worked with several employees with this company, they have all been knowledgeable, kind and personable.”, Linda
What Is The Medicaid Look-Back Period In Ohio If My Parent Gave Away Money Or Property?
Ohio reviews every transfer your parent made in the 60 months (five years) before applying for nursing home Medicaid. A gift, or a sale below fair market value, can trigger a restricted coverage period, when Medicaid will not pay the nursing home. Its length equals the amount given away divided by a state-set average monthly nursing home cost.
Transfers families often forget:
- Cash gifts to children or grandchildren, including tuition or down payment help
- Adding a relative’s name to a bank account or deed
- Retitling the house or a vehicle
- Unwritten payments to a family member for care
A past gift does not automatically end your options. Transfers to a spouse or a disabled child are exempt, and some gifts can be returned to shorten or remove a penalty. Income is reviewed separately, and a parent whose income is over Ohio’s limit may still qualify through a Miller trust.
Applications go through county Job and Family Services offices. The county will ask for five years of statements, so start gathering them now, even if the records are spotty.
Our Crisis Medicaid Planning Services In Ohio
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. handles each part of crisis Medicaid planning for Ohio families facing nursing home care right now.
- Crisis Medicaid applications
- Medicaid eligibility review
- Look-back period analysis
- Spend-down strategy
- Qualified income trusts
- Community spouse protection
- Asset protection trusts
- Exempt asset planning
- Estate recovery protection
Where We Serve In Ohio
- Columbus
- Short North
- German Village
- Clintonville
- Bexley
- Westerville
- Dublin
- Powell
- Hilliard
- Grove City
- Gahanna
- Reynoldsburg
- Worthington
- New Albany
- Pickerington
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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How Long Does It Take To Get Approved For Medicaid In Ohio, And What Paperwork Is Needed?
Ohio generally has up to 45 days to decide a nursing home Medicaid application, though missing records or a complicated case can take longer. You apply through Ohio Benefits, the state’s online portal, or your county Job and Family Services office, which often requests more paperwork while the case is pending.
Missing records are a common cause of delays and denials, so gather these first:
- Five years of bank and investment statements for the look-back
- Deeds, vehicle titles, and other property records
- Life insurance policies and any prepaid funeral contracts
- Pension, Social Security, IRA, and other income records
- Any power of attorney and health care directives
For a married parent, the county counts both spouses’ assets together, which affects how you can protect what the at-home spouse keeps.
After approval, the county reviews eligibility every year, and changes such as a pension increase or an inheritance must be reported to the caseworker. If income rises above Ohio’s limit, a Qualified Income Trust may be needed to keep coverage.
About Jarvis Law Office In Ohio
We have helped Ohio families plan for aging and long-term care since May 2003. Our attorneys are licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio and are active members of the Ohio State Bar Association. A team of 39 people works across offices in Lancaster, Dublin, and St. Clairsville.
Our practice centers on probate avoidance and trust planning, along with Medicaid and elder law. When a plan calls for moving accounts or retitling the house, our team carries it out, and we work alongside your existing CPA or financial advisor.
Our Process For Ohio Families
1. Intake call and urgency assessment
Tell us where your parent is now, when private billing started, and whether a power of attorney exists. We pinpoint what must happen this week.
2. Gathering records for the five-year look-back
We give you a checklist for bank statements, deeds, insurance and retirement records.
3. Eligibility and asset review
We separate what counts toward Medicaid’s asset limit from what is protected, such as the home and what a spouse at home may keep.
4. Written plan recommendation
You get a plain written plan showing each lawful step and why it fits your family. We can share it with your CPA or financial advisor.
5. Carrying out the plan
We set up any needed trusts, including an income trust when monthly income exceeds Ohio’s limit, and retitle and fund assets.
6. Filing with the county office
We file the application with the county Job and Family Services office through Ohio Benefits.
7. Answering verification requests
When the caseworker asks for more proof, we respond fast so the application does not stall in pending status.
8. Approval and ongoing compliance
After approval, we explain reporting duties and annual renewals so coverage stays in place.
9. Appeals if a denial occurs
If the county office denies benefits, we can request a state hearing, which Ohio generally requires within 90 days of the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crisis Medicaid Planning
Does A Gift My Mom Made To A Grandchild Three Years Ago Count Against Her Under Ohio’s 5-Year Look-Back?
Yes, it can.
Can My Dad Keep The House If He Goes Into A Nursing Home And My Mom Still Lives There?
Yes. Ohio does not count the home as an asset while a spouse lives in it.
How Much Can The Healthy Parent At Home Keep When The Other Spouse Needs Nursing Home Medicaid?
The spouse at home, called the community spouse, keeps a protected share of the couple’s countable savings, up to a federal maximum set each year.
What Is A Qualified Income Trust, And Why Did The County Office Say My Father Needs One?
Ohio caps the income an applicant can have and still qualify.
Will Ohio Take The House After My Parent Dies Through Estate Recovery?
Estate recovery means the Ohio Department of Medicaid seeks repayment from the estate after the Medicaid recipient dies, and the house can be included.
Medicare Paid For Rehab, So Why Is The Nursing Home Now Billing Us Privately?
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay, with daily copays after day 20.
What Happens If The County Office Denies My Parent’s Medicaid Application?
You can request a state hearing, generally within 90 days of the notice date.
Client Feedback From Ohio
Local Resources In Ohio
- Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services
County agency that processes Medicaid applications and determines eligibility for low-income and elderly residents.
- Ohio Department of Medicaid
State agency that administers Ohio’s Medicaid program and sets coverage rules and income guidelines.
- Franklin County Probate Court
Handles guardianship, conservatorship, and estate matters for incapacitated or elderly individuals.
- Franklin County Recorder’s Office
Maintains official records of real property deeds and transfers, relevant when assessing asset ownership.
- Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state.
- Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
Connects older adults and caregivers to community support services and benefits counseling.
- Ohio Legal Help
Statewide nonprofit providing public legal information and referrals, including for benefits and elder law matters.
- Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Provides services and support coordination for individuals with developmental disabilities in Franklin County.
- Ohio Department of Aging
State agency overseeing programs and services designed to support older Ohioans and their families.
- Social Security Administration, Columbus Office
Federal office handling Social Security benefits, SSI determinations, and disability claims for local residents.
- Franklin County Common Pleas Court
General trial court handling civil matters including trust disputes and financial exploitation cases.
- Ohio State Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service
Connects individuals to licensed Ohio attorneys vetted by the state bar.
Talk To Jarvis Law Office About A Medicaid Crisis In Ohio
Reach out to Jarvis Law Office, P.C. as soon as a nursing home admission or dementia diagnosis puts your parent’s home and savings in question. Tell us what’s happening, and we’ll map out the first steps under Ohio’s Medicaid rules, including what a spouse at home can keep. The nursing home bill keeps running while you decide.
You don’t need everything in order before your first call. If you can, keep these nearby:
- Your parent’s recent bank and retirement statements
- The deed to the house
- Insurance policies, including any long-term care or life insurance
- Any power of attorney or estate planning documents
Missing paperwork is common. We’ll tell you what matters most and help you track down the rest.
