Niles, IL estates & probate attorney Dana Zivkovich discusses how Medicaid planning protects assets. She mentions that Medicaid planning allows individuals to protect their assets by making decisions in advance based on their circumstances and risk tolerance. Planning ahead helps avoid crisis situations where urgent decisions must be made, such as the sudden need for nursing home or long-term care. Without prior planning, an individual’s assets may be consumed by the cost of care.

She emphasizes that once assets are depleted, little remains to support or enhance quality of life. Through Medicaid planning, assets can be structured in a way that preserves resources for a better quality of life while still ensuring access to necessary care. Importantly, this planning must be done well before a crisis occurs in order to be effective.