PODCASTEpisode 16 – The Five-Year Lookback Period: What You Need to Know (Part 2)
Think you know what counts as a gift? Think again.
In Part 2 of our series on the five-year Medicaid lookback period, attorneys Dave Shaffer and Hannah Mills go beyond the obvious to uncover the lesser-known transactions that can trigger penalties—from “discounted” car sales and under-the-table payments to ATM withdrawals and casino trips.
This episode explores how caseworkers view these transactions, what kinds of documentation can make or break your case, and why meticulous record-keeping is the key to avoiding costly penalties. Dave and Hannah share real examples—including a Monroe County fair-hearing case where thousands of dollars in reimbursements to a daughter were treated as gifts despite 159 pages of receipts—and explain what families can learn from it.
The conversation wraps up with practical planning advice: how to protect yourself, when to consult an attorney, and why it pays to “think like a caseworker” long before applying for Medicaid.