A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) can be a helpful way to protect your home and savings if long‑term care is ever needed. Here’s a simple overview to help you understand whether it may be right for you.

1. Who Is a Good Fit for a MAPT?
  • You are at least age 55 and plan to stay in your home for many years. 
  • You have a trustworthy adult child who can help manage the trust.
  • You want to avoid spending down your assets if long‑term care is ever needed.
  • Your home has at least about $250,000 in equity.
  • You have savings and investments between roughly $150,000 and $1,200,000.

If most of these describe you, a MAPT may be a strong option.

2. What a MAPT Does (In One Sentence)
A MAPT protects your home and certain assets from Medicaid spend‑down while keeping them available for your family.

3. Key Decisions You Make

  • Who will manage the trust: Usually an adult child or trusted family member.
  • Income: You can choose whether you continue receiving income from trust assets.
  • Access for children: You decide whether your children can receive anything during your lifetime.


4. The Main Benefits

  • Your home is protected. After five years, Medicaid cannot take your home to repay care costs.
  • Your assets stay in your family. The trust helps prevent forced spend‑down if long‑term care becomes necessary.


5. Important Rules to Know

  • Five‑year rule: Transfers to the trust start a five‑year protection period.
  • Trustee must follow the rules: Your trustee cannot give assets back to you directly.


6. The Bottom Line
If protecting your home and keeping assets in your family is important to you, this trust is one of the strongest tools available.