Understanding Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
When you or a loved one faces the prospect of long-term care, the financial implications can be overwhelming. Skilled nursing care in the Chicago area often exceeds $10,000 per month—a cost that can quickly deplete decades of savings.
Elder law is the area of legal practice focused on helping seniors and their families navigate these challenges. At Skokie Probate Lawyer, we concentrate our practice on helping families protect their assets while ensuring access to necessary care through programs like Illinois Medicaid.
Our Approach to Medicaid Planning
Every family’s situation is unique. Some clients come to us years before they need care, allowing time for comprehensive planning. Others face crisis situations—a sudden stroke, a fall, an unexpected diagnosis—that require immediate action.
For proactive planners, we develop long-term strategies that may include:
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Strategic asset repositioning
- Long-term care insurance coordination
- Veterans benefits planning
For crisis situations, we move quickly to:
- Assess available options under Illinois Medicaid rules
- Protect the healthy spouse from impoverishment
- File Medicaid applications with proper documentation
- Navigate appeals if benefits are initially denied
What Sets Us Apart
Attorney Zisl Edelson brings a unique combination of credentials to elder law practice. With both a J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, he understands both the legal requirements and the financial implications of Medicaid planning decisions.
More importantly, clients consistently praise his compassionate approach. In reviews, words like “patient,” “kind,” and “understanding” appear again and again. When you’re making difficult decisions about a parent’s care—often while grieving their decline—having an attorney who genuinely cares makes all the difference.
Crisis Planning: It’s Rarely Too Late
One of the most common questions we hear is: “Is it too late to protect assets?”
The answer, in most cases, is no. While planning ahead provides more options, Illinois Medicaid rules include provisions that allow for asset protection even after nursing home admission:
- Spousal impoverishment rules protect the community spouse’s right to a home, a vehicle, and a minimum income
- Certain transfers are exempt from the look-back period
- Proper legal structures can still be implemented in crisis situations
The key is acting quickly and working with an attorney who specializes in Illinois Medicaid rules. General practice attorneys often miss opportunities that an elder law specialist would recognize. For a deeper look at the eligibility requirements, see our guide on understanding Illinois Medicaid eligibility.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you’re facing a long-term care decision—whether planning ahead or dealing with a crisis—we’re here to help. Call 847-410-9131 to schedule your consultation.
For clients who cannot travel to our Skokie office, we offer house and hospital calls throughout Cook County.
