I-6110 Policy Implementation Dates

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

For applications or program transfer requests filed before Oct. 1, 2006, or for case actions before Oct. 1, 2006, regardless of the date of purchase of a life estate, follow pre-DRA policy for life estates and remainder interests. Do not consider the purchase of a life estate as a transfer of assets, unless the purchase price of the life estate exceeds the fair market value (FMV) of the life estate.

For applications or program transfer requests filed on or after Oct. 1, 2006, or for case actions on or after Oct. 1, 2006, with a purchase of a life estate before April 1, 2006, follow pre-DRA policy as outlined in Section F-4212, Life Estates and Remainder Interests. Do not consider the purchase of a life estate as a transfer of assets, unless the purchase price of the life estate exceeds the FMV of the life estate.

For applications or program transfer requests filed on or after Oct. 1, 2006, or for case actions on or after Oct. 1, 2006, with a purchase of a life estate on or after April 1, 2006, consider the purchase of a life estate on or after April 1, 2006, as a potential transfer of assets and follow post-DRA policy. 

I-6120 Post-DRA Transfer of Assets Policy

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

Note: The post-DRA changes pertaining to a life estate do not apply to the retention or reservation of a life estate by an individual transferring real property.

When an individual purchases a life estate on or after April 1, 2006, the potential for a transfer of assets occurs. A purchase of a life estate on or after April 1, 2006, is a transfer unless both of the following conditions are met:

  • The individual purchasing a life estate in another individual's home actually resides in the home.
  • The individual continues to reside in the home for a period of at least one year after the date of purchase. 

I-6121 One-Year Residency Requirement

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

The months of residence for the one-year period must be consecutive. Less than one year of occupancy after the date of purchase results in treatment as a transfer of assets for less than fair market value (FMV). When evaluating the facts of the purchase of a life estate, determine whether the individual lived in the home by considering factors, such as whether the individual's mail was delivered there or whether the individual paid the property taxes or utilities.

If the purchaser of the life estate moves out of the home before the end of the one-year period, the date of the purchase of the life estate is the date of transfer and the full amount paid for the life estate is the countable amount of the transfer.

The purchase amount of the life estate should not be reduced or prorated to reflect an individual's residency for a period of time less than a year.

Continue to consider Medicaid resource eligibility and transfer of assets rules, even in a case where an individual purchasing a life estate in the home of another individual does live there for at least one year. Unless the property in which the individual has purchased the life estate qualifies as the individual's excluded home, the value of the life estate is counted as a resource in determining Medicaid eligibility.

In determining the value of life estates, continue to follow policy as life estates and remainder interests and the use of the life estate tables in Appendix X, Life Estate and Remainder Interest Tables. The life estate can be excluded as a homestead.

Under pre-DRA and post-DRA policy, consider as a transfer of assets the purchase for a life estate when the payment for the life estate exceeds the FMV of the life estate.

Use Appendix X to determine the FMV. Calculate the difference between the purchase price paid and the FMV.

If an individual makes a gift or transfer of a life estate interest, the value of the life estate, as calculated under Appendix X, is treated as a transfer of assets.

Example 1

AssetDetail
Date of Life Estate Purchase11/15/2005
Amount of Life Estate Purchase$7,500 – FMV was paid for the life estate interest.
File Date01/25/2006
Institution Entry01/15/2006
Living ArrangementIndividual resided in the home until date of entry to institution, which is less than one year after date of purchase.
MED01/01/2006
Penalty Start DateUse pre-DRA policy. No transfer of assets. 

Application for Medicaid was before 10/01/2006 and life estate interest was purchased before 04/01/2006. 

Use policy in Section F-4212, Life Estates and Remainder Interests.

Example 2

AssetDetail
Date of Life Estate Purchase05/11/2006
Amount of Life Estate Purchase$5,000 – FMV
File Date10/15/2006
Institution Entry08/15/2006
Living ArrangementThe individual resided in the home until entry to the institution, which is less than one year after the date of purchase.
MED10/01/2006
Penalty Start DateUse post-DRA policy. Start penalty with the medical effective date month — 10/01/2006. A transfer penalty applies to this situation since the individual did not reside in the home with the purchased life estate for one year after date of purchase. 

Purchase amount is $5,000 ÷ 117.08 = 42 days. Penalty start date is 10/01/2006 through 11/11/2006.

Example 3

AssetDetail
Date of Life Estate Purchase05/15/2006
Amount of Life Estate Purchase$6,000 – FMV
File Date12/11/2007
Institution Entry12/11/2007
Living ArrangementThe individual resided in the home until date of entry to institution, which is greater than one year.
Medical Effective Date12/01/2007
Penalty Start DateUse post-DRA policy. No transfer penalty applies to this situation since the individual resided in the home for more than one year after date of purchase. 

Use policy in Section F-4212, Life Estates and Remainder Interests, for resource treatment of the life estate.

Example 4

AssetDetail
Date of Life Estate Purchase05/11/2006
Amount of Life Estate Purchase$3,500 – FMV is $2,000.
File Date06/06/2007
Institution Entry06/06/2007
Living ArrangementThe individual resided in the home until date of entry to the institution, which is greater than one year.
Medical Effective Date06/01/2007
Penalty Start DateUsing post-DRA policy, no transfer penalty applies to the purchase of the life estate since the individual resided in the home for more than one year after date of purchase, except that the individual paid more than FMV for the purchase of the life estate. 

Difference between FMV of $2,000 and amount paid is $1,500 ÷ 117.08 = 12 days. 

Penalty start date policy — Use post-DRA since the transfer was after 02/08/2006 and application was after 10/01/2006. 

Penalty starts the medical effective date month of 06/01/2007. Penalty would be from 06/01/2007 through 06/12/2007.