• Provide immediate Medicaid eligibility
• Be undone casually (it is irrevocable)
• Eliminate all planning risks
• Replace crisis Medicaid planning tools

A revocable trust is primarily used to avoid probate and plan for incapacity, but it does not protect assets from Medicaid. A MAPT is irrevocable and specifically designed to address long-term care and Medicaid eligibility rules.

No. A MAPT does not guarantee Medicaid eligibility and does not provide immediate protection. Medicaid eligibility depends on:

• Timing of transfers
• The look-back period
• Income rules
• Care level requirements

A MAPT is one tool within a broader Medicaid planning strategy.

Medicaid reviews asset transfers made during a look-back period before an application. Transfers during this period can result in a penalty period delaying eligibility.

This is why MAPTs work best when created well in advance of needing care.

Yes, in many cases a primary residence can be transferred into a MAPT. This is one of the most common planning strategies for homeowners concerned about preserving their home for family members.
Each situation must be reviewed carefully to avoid unintended consequences.

Often, yes. Many MAPTs are structured so the trustmaker retains the right to live in the home while transferring ownership to the trust. The exact terms matter and must be drafted carefully.

Because a MAPT is irrevocable, you cannot serve as sole trustee with unrestricted control. Trustees are selected to comply with Medicaid rules while still allowing lawful use and protection of assets.

Income planning is complex under Medicaid rules. Some MAPTs are structured so income may still be available, while others are not. Income treatment must be coordinated with Medicaid eligibility rules.

No. MAPTs are not appropriate for everyone, especially if:

•  Long-term care is needed immediately
•  Assets are limited
•  Flexibility and control are more important than protection
•  The look-back period cannot be satisfied

We help families evaluate alternatives when MAPTs are not the right fit.

MAPT assets typically pass to beneficiaries according to the trust terms and may avoid Medicaid estate recovery, depending on how the trust was structured and administered.

MAPTs involve highly technical Medicaid rules. Errors can cause:

• Loss of eligibility
• Penalty periods
• Unintended taxation
• Loss of asset protection

Generic forms rarely comply with Idaho Medicaid rules.

The best way to know is to review your assets, health outlook, family goals, and timing with an experienced attorney. At Snake River Law, we help families understand whether, when, and how MAPT planning fits into a responsible long-term strategy.

This timeline helps illustrate how proactive Medicaid planning typically unfolds. 5+ Years Before Care Is Needed (Ideal Planning Window)

• Create a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
• Transfer appropriate assets (home, savings, non-retirement funds)
• Coordinate estate plan and powers of attorney
• Begin look-back period

Result: Maximum flexibility and protection

•  MAPT planning may still be possible
•  Penalty exposure must be carefully evaluated
•  Hybrid strategies may be required

Result: Partial protection with careful timing

•  MAPTs are usually not appropriate
•  Crisis Medicaid planning strategies may apply
•  Focus shifts to income planning and spend-down techniques

Result: Damage control rather than asset preservation

A married couple in Eastern Idaho owns a home valued at $450,000 and has $300,000 in savings. They are healthy but concerned about future nursing home

Planning Strategy :

• Transfer the home into a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
• Retitle non-retirement savings into the trust
• Coordinate estate plan and successor trustee roles

Outcome:

If long-term care is needed after the look-back period, the home and trust assets may be preserved for children rather than spent down on care.

A single Idaho resident owns a home and modest investments and wants to ensure her children inherit the home rather than lose it to long-term care costs

Planning Strategy:

•  Early MAPT planning before any care needs
• Careful trustee and beneficiary selection
• Coordination with revocable trust and powers of attorney

Outcome:

Long-term planning creates protection while maintaining housing stability.

An Idaho resident suffers a sudden stroke and requires immediate nursing home placement.

Reality:

•  MAPT planning is too late
•  Crisis Medicaid strategies must be explored instead

Lesson:

MAPTs reward early planning; they are not emergency tools