Why 2025 Could Be a Turning Point for Your Estate Plan

You may have seen headlines about the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a federal proposal that would extend higher estate tax exemptions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. But here’s the truth:

If you’re a middle-class family in Michigan, federal estate taxes likely won’t impact you.

What will? The cost of long-term care.

Why This Federal Tax Bill Still Matters

Even if you don’t have millions in assets, shifts in federal law can ripple into areas that do affect you—like Medicaid eligibility, gifting rules, and estate recovery. When Washington rewrites the tax code, states often revisit their own policies.

So while estate tax changes may grab headlines, the real financial risk for families like yours is something much closer to home: having to spend down your life savings to afford a nursing home.

Long-Term Care Costs

• Nursing home care in Michigan can cost $8,000–$12,000/month.
• Medicare doesn’t cover it, and most private insurance policies don’t go far enough.
• Without planning, families must often spend down nearly everything to qualify for Medicaid.
• And even then, Medicaid can come after your estate when you’re gone—unless you’ve protected it.
  

What You Can Do to Protect Your Family

Here are four simple but powerful steps you can take today:

1. Create an Asset Protection Plan Before a Crisis Hits
Use tools like a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) to protect your home, savings, or family business before care is needed. The earlier you act, the more you can preserve.

2. Understand the 5-Year Lookback Rule
Medicaid looks back 5 years for asset transfers. That means timing matters—moving assets now (legally and strategically) helps you qualify later without penalties.

3. Coordinate Medicaid & Estate Planning
Even if you're not facing estate taxes, you do need a coordinated plan. We help families align wills, powers of attorney, and trusts to ensure control, care, and protection for the long haul.

4. Talk to a Qualified Elder Law Attorney
Estate planning alone isn't enough. Medicaid planning is its own specialty—and our firm is built around helping middle-class families navigate both, with confidence and clarity.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Urgent

You’ve worked hard to build your life and protect your loved ones. Don’t let long-term care costs wipe that away. With the right plan in place, you can:

• Stay in control of your assets
• Qualify for care without losing everything
• Pass on your legacy—on your terms

Let’s make sure your plan is ready.
Schedule your consultation today »