Q: When should I file my parent’s Medicaid application for long term care? He should qualify as medically necessary, but only after we spend his 40k savings on private care. Should I file now or after he spends the money?

A: It is highly advisable not to do this on your own. If there are $40,000.00 in assets to spend down, you need to do this with the advice of an experienced elder law attorney. There are ways to shelter some of these assets and it will be well worth the legal fee as it will likely save a portion of your father’s money which will otherwise go to Medicaid.