Medicaid Planning Attorney

Your Family's Future Matters. We Help You Protect It And Still Get the Care You Need

Without a Plan, Medicaid Rules Can Cost Your Family Money and Delay Care. A Medicaid Planning Attorney Helps You Avoid Both

Kansas Medicaid, called KanCare, has strict financial rules that determine whether you qualify for coverage and how much of what you own you get to keep. Getting any one of these rules wrong can delay your coverage, cost you assets you didn’t need to lose, or leave your family with a bill after you’re gone.

Giving Away Money or Property Too Soon Can Delay Your Coverage

Kansas looks back five years from the date you apply for nursing home Medicaid. Any gift, property transfer, or sale below market value made in that window, including transfers of land or a family home, can result in a period where Medicaid won’t pay for your care.

Applying For Medicaid Without a Plan Can Mean Losing Assets You Didn't Have To

Medicaid limits a single applicant to $2,000 in countable savings and assets. Families who don’t know this ahead of time often end up spending down or losing money the wrong way, when a plan in advance could have protected much more of it while still qualifying.

Applying For Medicaid Without a Plan Can Mean Losing Assets You Didn't Have To

Under K.S.A. 39-709, Kansas can file a claim against your estate to recover what it paid for your care. Without planning, that claim gets paid before your family sees what’s left.

What You Gain By Working With a Medicaid Planning Attorney

Each of the risks above has a specific solution, and the right one depends on how much time you have before you need care. We build a plan that addresses timing, your savings and assets, and what happens to your estate together, rather than treating them as separate problems.

We Time Your Transfers So They Don't Cost You Coverage

If we start early enough, transfers and trusts you set up now will have already cleared the five-year waiting period by the time you need care. If time is shorter, we identify which transfers are still allowed, such as gifts to a spouse or a caregiving adult child, and document them correctly.

We Help You Qualify Without Losing the Money or Assets

We convert savings and other assets into forms that don’t count against the $2,000 limit, such as paying down debt on your home or prepaying funeral expenses, so you qualify without simply giving the money away.

We Use Trusts to Keep the State From Billing Your Family Later

An irrevocable trust moves assets out of your name while still letting you control where they go. Once enough time has passed, assets in the trust are generally protected from both the asset limit and the state’s claim against your estate. This work is coordinated with your existing trusts and asset protection plan.

Meet Lisa Ward, Our Founding Attorney

Lisa Ward has practiced law in Kansas for over 30 years, with a practice spanning elder law, business law, real estate, and estate planning. As a solo practitioner based in Wamego, Lisa works directly with every client she takes on, from the first consultation through every document that gets signed. She has spent much of her career helping farm families and small business owners across Pottawatomie County protect what they’ve built while planning for the future, and she brings that same approach to Medicaid planning: honest about what’s realistic, thorough about the details, and focused on fitting each plan to the family in front of her.

Why Kansas Families Choose Us For Their Medicaid Planning

Medicaid planning works best when it’s handled by someone who understands the rest of your financial life, not just the application itself. A firm that treats Medicaid planning as part of your whole financial picture, works case by case, and coordinates with what you already have in place gets better outcomes for families in Wamego and Pottawatomie County.

Over Thirty Years of Experience

With over thirty years of experience in both elder law and estate planning, Lisa Ward Law has the knowledge to ensure your medicaid plan is drafted right the first time with nothing important overlooked or forgotten. We take your family’s well being seriously. Our goal is to make sure your assets are protected and that you or your loved one receives the care they need.

We Provide Honest And Clear Guidance

Your Medicaid plan is coordinated with your existing wills, trusts, or business succession plans instead of starting from scratch. You get an honest explanation of your realistic options, including when a simpler approach makes more sense than an aggressive one, so you can make an informed decision rather than feel pushed toward a plan that doesn't fit your situation.

We Build A Medicaid Plan Specific To You And Your Family

Someone years away from needing care has different options than someone facing a nursing home admission next month. Your plan is built around where you actually stand, not a generic template. Your interests and goals will always be our top priority and we draft your plan with that in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does It Cost to Work With a Medicaid Planning Attorney?

Cost depends on how complex your assets and timeline are. Lisa discusses fees during your consultation so you know what to expect before any work begins.

What if I Need to Apply for Medicaid Soon?

It’s not too late. Even with little time, there are still steps that can protect some assets and help your application avoid unnecessary delays or denials.

Will My Spouse Lose Our House if I Go Into a Nursing Home?

No. A home occupied by a non-applying spouse is generally protected, and Kansas allows that spouse to keep a portion of the couple’s income and assets.

What Happens if My Application Is Denied?

Lisa reviews the denial to determine whether it can be corrected, appealed, or resolved with a revised application.

Is Medicaid Planning the Same as Medicare Planning?

No. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term nursing home care beyond a short skilled-care window. Medicaid, called KanCare in Kansas, is what pays for long-term care, and it’s what this page addresses.

Testimonials

    
 
 
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   Ashton Torrey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful!!
  
 
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   Micki Self-Loveland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lisa Ward’s expertise in real estate/tenant law is exceptional.  She provided a practical and affordable way to address a legal challenge related to an eviction.  She is timely and knowledgeable and did not belabor the conversation - keeping the costs for services minimal.
  
 
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   Molly B 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lisa feels more like a family advisor than a lawyer and made our estate planning experience comfortable, informative, and supportive.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Louis Beauchamp 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lisa was very professional and super friendly. She and her staff were timely and attentive with questions and concerns. I would highly recommend her to someone looking for a warm, straightforward and extremely knowledgeable attorney.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   DeAnn Harring 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lisa does a fantastic job, and very easy to talk, 10/10 recommend.

Learn More About Estate Planning

An estate planning attorney showing a client how they can avoid the Kansas probate process.

Schedule Your Medicaid Planning Consultation

If you have questions or concerns about your Medicaid plan, we are here to help. Click the button below to schedule your consultation with Lis Ward Law today.

Medicaid Planning Attorney

Without a Plan, Medicaid Rules Can Cost Your Family Money and Delay Care. A Medicaid Planning Attorney Helps You Avoid Both

Giving Away Money or Property Too Soon Can Delay Your Coverage

Applying For Medicaid Without a Plan Can Mean Losing Assets You Didn't Have To

Applying For Medicaid Without a Plan Can Mean Losing Assets You Didn't Have To

What You Gain By Working With a Medicaid Planning Attorney

We Time Your Transfers So They Don't Cost You Coverage

We Help You Qualify Without Losing the Money or Assets

We Use Trusts to Keep the State From Billing Your Family Later

Meet Lisa Ward, Our Founding Attorney

Why Kansas Families Choose Us For Their Medicaid Planning

Over Thirty Years of Experience

We Provide Honest And Clear Guidance

We Build A Medicaid Plan Specific To You And Your Family

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials

Learn More About Estate Planning

Can You Avoid Probate in Kansas?

Power of Attorney vs. Advanced Healthcare Directive: What’s the Difference and Why You Need Both

What to Look For in an Estate Planning Attorney

Schedule Your Medicaid Planning Consultation

Contact Us