Medicaid Long Term Care Benefits:  Medicaid is the government's "welfare" equivalent of Long Term Care insurance (LTCi) for those that meet poverty guidelines.  In general, individuals must have "spent down" almost all of their savings and investments to qualify for Medicaid.  For couples, the rules allow the "healthy" spouse to retain a Spousal Impoverishmnet Benefit of about $100,000, and the remaining joint monies must be "spent down" for necessary care and services.

Medicaid generally pays for semi-private  care at Nursing Homes only--not for care at Assisted Living Apartments, or Home Health Care that most people would prefer instead of Nursing Home care.  Medicaid payments for Nursing Home care actually can become liens on your family home, under the Estate Recovery Rules, and any amounts of Medicaid money used must be repaid to the government upon the sale of your residence.