Question: An elder law attorney suggested the purchase of a vehicle as a way to protect some of my grandma’s assets. While this would be excluded during the Medicaid spend-down, what can we do to prevent the car from being taken by estate recovery after she passes? I was told to do a title transfer from her name to mine after she is qualified for Medicaid. Is it really that simple?

Answer: This is something of a grey area. You must report most asset transfers to the Medicaid agency, and the transfer will usually cause a period of ineligibility for benefits. You could make an argument that the transfer of a noncountable asset does not need to be reported or, if reported, does not give rise to a penalty. This argument would not work in every state, but it could be that it is a common practice in your state. You will have to follow the advice of your local elder law attorney who will know how the rules are applied where you live.