Medicaid Planning Attorney in Fremont, MI

Medicaid Planning in Fremont

Nursing home care in Michigan averages $12,000 a month. For families in Fremont who have not done any planning, that number can be devastating. A lifetime of savings built over decades can disappear in a matter of months when long-term care costs arrive without a plan in place. The families who come through this process in the strongest financial position are almost always the ones who started the conversation with an attorney before the crisis arrived.



The Law Offices of David E. Waterstradt has been helping families in Fremont and throughout Newaygo County navigate Medicaid planning for over 30 years. Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) David Waterstradt provides personalized guidance grounded in decades of Michigan Medicaid experience, helping families understand what the rules actually require and what they actually permit.

What Counts Against You Under Michigan Medicaid

Michigan Medicaid requires applicants to reduce non-exempt assets before coverage begins. What surprises many families is how broadly non-exempt assets are defined. Cash, savings accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and real estate beyond the primary home are all countable. The home itself, one vehicle, personal belongings, a prepaid irrevocable funeral contract, and life insurance with a combined face value of $1,500 or less are generally exempt. Up to $9,660 in cash or other countable assets may also be retained.

What catches families off guard most often is the five-year look-back period. Michigan Medicaid reviews every financial transaction made in the five years before an application is filed. Gifts, property transfers, and asset movements that seemed reasonable at the time can trigger a penalty period that delays coverage and leaves the family responsible for full nursing home costs with no Medicaid support and often no remaining assets to draw from.

Planning Options for Fremont Families

For married couples, Michigan law allows the community spouse to retain one-half of the countable assets up to a maximum of $162,660 as of 2026. Assets beyond that threshold can often be protected rather than lost. A Medicaid-compliant annuity converts excess assets into a monthly income stream for the spouse at home, while a sole benefit trust provides a structured alternative that distributes assets over the community spouse's life expectancy.



For families with time to plan proactively, an irrevocable trust removes assets from Medicaid's consideration once the five-year look-back period has run its course. This is one of the most effective long-term wealth preservation strategies available to Michigan families who start the conversation early enough.

For families already in crisis, planning options remain. Crisis Medicaid planning uses annuities, compliant spend-down strategies, and other legal tools to protect a meaningful portion of assets even when a nursing home application needs to be filed immediately.

Begin Your Medicaid Planning Consultation Today

The earlier Fremont families begin the Medicaid planning process, the more options are available and the more assets can be protected. David Waterstradt has spent over 30 years helping West Michigan families navigate Michigan Medicaid law and build plans that protect what matters most. Contact the Law Offices of David E. Waterstradt today to schedule a consultation.