Medicaid Planning Without Going Broke: Protecting Your Home & Assets with Deanna M. Eble
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this episode of Unlocking Senior Resources, Larry Wagner is joined by Deanna M. Eble, a Partner at Russo Law Group, P.C. With over 17 years of experience at one of Long Island’s most respected elder law firms, Deanna tackles the number one fear among seniors: losing the family home to a nursing home.
This conversation is a must-watch because it peels back the curtain on the "human side" of elder law. Larry and Deanna break down complex Medicaid rules into actionable advice, covering everything from why your current Power of Attorney might be a "ticking time bomb" to how a specific trust can protect your house while keeping your tax exemptions. If you are a senior or an adult child concerned about the rising costs of long-term care, this roadmap is for you.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:• The 5-Year Look-Back Audit: What Medicaid looks for in your bank statements.• MAPT vs. Life Estates: Why the "cheaper" legal option can lead to massive tax bills.• New York Asset Limits: Navigating the 2026 thresholds ($32,000+ in assets).• Pooled Income Trusts: How to stay in your home if your income is over the limit.
TIMELINE SUMMARY:00:00 Introduction to Deanna M. Eble and the human side of elder law.04:30 The Best Nursing Home: Why proximity to family beats a fancy lobby.09:15 Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPT) vs. Life Estate Deeds.14:00 The cautionary tale of the ex-daughter-in-law and the deed lawsuit.21:10 Understanding Capital Gains and the "Step-Up in Basis" benefit.28:45 The 60-Month Audit: How dividends and hidden stocks can disqualify you.35:20 Protecting Retirement Accounts: Why you don't have to spend down your IRA.42:50 Power of Attorney Red Flags: The importance of "Unlimited Gifting" clauses.51:10 Spousal Refusal: New York’s unique protection for married couples.58:00 Closing thoughts: Why "Something is always better than nothing."
5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
TRUSTS BEAT LIFE ESTATES FOR PROTECTION: A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust protects your home from a child’s creditors or divorce and preserves your $250,000 capital gains exclusion.
IRAS ARE OFTEN EXEMPT ASSETS: You do not necessarily have to liquidate your retirement accounts. In New York, these can stay in your name as long as they are in payout status.
THE POWER OF ATTORNEY CRISIS: An outdated Power of Attorney can prevent your lawyer from saving your assets in a crisis. Ensure yours is updated to the June 2021 NY standards.
THE HUMAN METRIC FOR CARE: Choose a facility based on where you can visit most often. Family interaction is the greatest factor in ensuring quality care.
POOLED INCOME TRUSTS FOR INDEPENDENCE: If your income is too high for Medicaid, you can use a Pooled Income Trust to pay for your own utilities and taxes while receiving care.
CONNECT WITH DEANNA M. EBLE & RUSSO LAW GROUP, P.C.:• Website: vjrussolaw.com• Phone: 516-683-1717• Office: 100 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530
CONNECT WITH LARRY WAGNER & LEAVE THE KEY:• Website: leavethekey.com• Phone: 631-388-7771• Senior Transition Service: leavethekey.com/senior-transition-services-long-island/• Facebook: facebook.com/leavethekey
FINAL THOUGHTS:At Leave The Key, we view our work with the senior community as a vital service to the families of Long Island. Transitioning from a family home is a major life event, and our goal is to ensure you have the resources and legal knowledge to do so with confidence. If this episode helped clarify your future planning, please subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.
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In this episode of Unlocking Senior Resources, Larry Wagner is joined by Deanna M. Eble, a Partner at Russo Law Group, P.C. With over 17 years of experience at one of Long Island’s most respected elder law firms, Deanna tackles the number one fear among seniors: losing the family home to a nursing home. This conversation is a must-watch because it peels back the curtain on the "human side" of elder law. Larry and Deanna break down complex Medicaid rules into actionable advice, covering everything from why your current Power of Attorney might be a "ticking time bomb" to how a specific trust can protect your house while keeping your tax exemptions. If you are a senior or an adult child concerned about the rising costs of long-term care, this roadmap is for you. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:• The 5-Year Look-Back Audit: What Medicaid looks for in your bank statements.• MAPT vs. Life Estates: Why the "cheaper" legal option can lead to massive tax bills.• New York Asset Limits: Navigating the 2026 thresholds ($32,000+ in assets).• Pooled Income Trusts: How to stay in your home if your income is over the limit. TIMELINE SUMMARY:00:00 Introduction to Deanna M. Eble and the human side of elder law.04:30 The Best Nursing Home: Why proximity to family beats a fancy lobby.09:15 Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPT) vs. Life Estate Deeds.14:00 The cautionary tale of the ex-daughter-in-law and the deed lawsuit.21:10 Understanding Capital Gains and the "Step-Up in Basis" benefit.28:45 The 60-Month Audit: How dividends and hidden stocks can disqualify you.35:20 Protecting Retirement Accounts: Why you don't have to spend down your IRA.42:50 Power of Attorney Red Flags: The importance of "Unlimited Gifting" clauses.51:10 Spousal Refusal: New York’s unique protection for married couples.58:00 Closing thoughts: Why "Something is always better than nothing." 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS: TRUSTS BEAT LIFE ESTATES FOR PROTECTION: A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust protects your home from a child’s creditors or divorce and preserves your $250,000 capital gains exclusion. IRAS ARE OFTEN EXEMPT ASSETS: You do not necessarily have to liquidate your retirement accounts. In New York, these can stay in your name as long as they are in payout status. THE POWER OF ATTORNEY CRISIS: An outdated Power of Attorney can prevent your lawyer from saving your assets in a crisis. Ensure yours is updated to the June 2021 NY standards. THE HUMAN METRIC FOR CARE: Choose a facility based on where you can visit most often. Family interaction is the greatest factor in ensuring quality care. POOLED INCOME TRUSTS FOR INDEPENDENCE: If your income is too high for Medicaid, you can use a Pooled Income Trust to pay for your own utilities and taxes while receiving care. CONNECT WITH DEANNA M. EBLE & RUSSO LAW GROUP, P.C.:• Website: vjrussolaw.com• Phone: 516-683-1717• Office: 100 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd, Garden City, NY 11530 CONNECT WITH LARRY WAGNER & LEAVE THE KEY:• Website: leavethekey.com• Phone: 631-388-7771• Senior Transition Service: leavethekey.com/senior-transition-services-long-island/• Facebook: facebook.com/leavethekey FINAL THOUGHTS:At Leave The Key, we view our work with the senior community as a vital service to the families of Long Island. Transitioning from a family home is a major life event, and our goal is to ensure you have the resources and legal knowledge to do so with confidence. If this episode helped clarify your future planning, please subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.