The Hidden Cost of Waiting: Why Medicaid Planning Pays Off Big

Recently, I sat across from a client. His wife had just been diagnosed with dementia, and you could see the weight of it all in his eyes—uncertainty, fear, love. He said something that stuck with me: “I wish we’d done this five years ago.” Now they’re looking at over $120,000 a year in care costs and scrambling to protect what they’ve built. I hear this more often than I’d like. Medicaid planning isn’t just paperwork—it’s the difference between panic and peace of mind. If you’re thinking, maybe later, I’d urge you to reconsider.

What Medicaid Planning Is

Medicaid planning is about more than qualifying for government assistance—it’s a strategic approach to protecting your assets while ensuring you or your spouse can receive the care you need, when you need it. With nursing home costs exceeding $10,000 per month in Michigan, even a strong estate can evaporate in a matter of years without a solid plan.

We help families navigate rules, create protective legal structures, and avoid common pitfalls like gifting errors that can cause penalties.

Who Should Consider It—and Why

If you’re age 60 or older, have aging parents, or if long-term care is a possibility in your family’s future, now is the time to plan.

Here’s what one client had to say:

“We are so very grateful for all of the help from the Rutkowski team to get our parents’ finances in order and to get them settled in long-term care. We were overwhelmed but thanks to the team’s kindness, dedication, and hard work, our parents are well cared for, and the finances are all in place. Highly recommend!”
— Sharon Soltesz, Bloomfield Hills, MI

With proper planning, you can:

• Qualify for Medicaid while protecting your home and life savings
• Shield your spouse from financial ruin if you need care first
• Reduce stress on your children and loved ones
• Maintain control and dignity through a crisis
  

How Rutkowski Law Firm Can Help

We walk families through both proactive Medicaid strategies and crisis-based plans when care is needed now. Our team helps:

• Set up Medicaid-compliant trusts
• Navigate the 5-year look-back period
• Preserve family homes and retirement accounts
• Avoid costly and irreversible mistakes

Whether you’re starting early or facing an urgent need, we’ll meet you where you are—without judgment—and map out a plan that protects what matters most.