2007 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 · 573-334-5125 · www.CapeGirardeauLaw.com
Facing Nursing Home Costs?
What Southeast Missouri families should know — before the money is gone.
It may not be too late — even after admission
Many families are told that once a loved one is in a nursing home, nothing can be done. That is usually not correct. Planning for families whose loved one is already in a facility is a recognized area of law, and depending on the circumstances a meaningful portion of what remains can often be protected — in many cases including the home.
What cannot be recovered is money already paid out while a family waited to ask. That is the only real deadline, and it runs about $274 a day.
If a spouse is still at home
Missouri performs a Division of Assets for married couples. The spouse who stays home may be able to keep up to $162,660 in countable assets — not the $6,220.50 limit that applies to a single person — plus a guaranteed monthly income floor of $2,705. Most spouses are never told either figure.
Please don't transfer anything yet
Missouri looks back five years at gifts and transfers. Deeding a house to a child, adding a name to an account, or selling something below value can create months of Medicaid ineligibility — a penalty that begins when the family would otherwise have qualified, when the money is already gone. Get advice before signing anything.
How we may be able to help
- Review what your family owns and what Missouri actually counts
- Determine what can and cannot be protected in your situation
- Prepare and submit the MO HealthNet (Medicaid) application
- Gather the required documentation and respond to Family Support Division requests
- Handle the annual renewal
If your situation is one we can't improve, we will tell you that plainly.
Not sure whether to call? There is a short questionnaire on our website — nine questions, about ninety seconds, nothing saved or sent to us. It will tell you whether this is something we may be able to help with: capegirardeaulaw.com/nursing-home-assessment
I was able to focus on my wife’s nursing care and leave the stress to them. Instead of spending down all our hard-earned money, we were able to protect our assets.”
— Larry S., Jackson, MO (results vary by situation)
(573) 334-5125
Law Office of Mark McMullin · Estate Planning & Elder Law
2007 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
frontdesk@capegirardeaulaw.com · www.CapeGirardeauLaw.com
This sheet is general information about Missouri Medicaid and nursing home costs. It is not legal advice, no outcome is promised or implied, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Figures are 2026 Missouri amounts and change several times a year. Every family's situation is different. The Law Office of Mark McMullin is a trade name of McMullin Legal Services LLC and is not affiliated with any nursing facility. “The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.”