---
title: "What Is Medicaid estate recovery? Home Care Glossary"
description: "Medicaid estate recovery is the process where a state seeks repayment from a deceased Medicaid member's estate. Federal law requires states to do this for..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-estate-recovery/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Paying for care

# Medicaid estate recovery

Medicaid estate recovery is the process where a state seeks repayment from a deceased Medicaid member's estate. Federal law requires states to do this for members age 55 or older. Recovery covers nursing facility care, home and community-based services, and related hospital and drug costs.

## Why it matters for your family

Estate recovery surprises many families, especially when a home is the main asset. States may not recover when the person leaves a spouse, a child under 21, or a child who is blind or disabled. States must also have a process to waive recovery for undue hardship. States may recover other Medicaid costs too, so rules differ. A common mistake is to think Medicaid planning ends at approval. Ask the state Medicaid agency how it handles recovery and what counts as the estate. An elder law attorney can explain options before the family signs anything.

Source: [medicaid.gov](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility-policy/estate-recovery)

[Read more: What is Elder Law and Do You Need an Elder Care Attorney?](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/paying-for-care/elder-law-attorney/)

## Related terms

-   [**Medicaid eligibility**Medicaid eligibility for long-term care depends on need, income, and assets.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-eligibility/)
-   [**Medicaid planning**Medicaid planning is the legal arrangement of income and assets so a person can meet Medicaid rules for long-term care.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-planning/)
-   [**Look-back period**The look-back period is the time window Medicaid reviews when someone applies for long-term care coverage.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/look-back-period/)
-   [**Home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver**A home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver is a Medicaid program that pays for care at home or in the community instead of in a nursing home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-and-community-based-services-waiver/)
-   [**Elder law attorney**An elder law attorney is a lawyer who focuses on legal issues of older adults.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/elder-law-attorney/)
-   [**Spend down**Spend down is a way to qualify for Medicaid when your income is above the state limit.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/spend-down/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

## Talk to a care advisor today.

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![A caregiver bringing a meal to an older man at home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/caregiver.CIGFcZAB_PlrDw.webp)