Does a trust protect my assets from the nursing home?

No. Minnesota’s public policy dictates that if an individual has assets enough to pay for his or her care, then those assets must first be used to pay for care before any government assistance is available.

Assets held in a trust are considered available assets for purposes of qualifying for Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) and are not protected from the nursing home. Just because you have executed an estate plan does not mean your assets are protected from the potential need for long-term care.