How can I protect my home?

I would talk to a Medicaid representative and find out how they deal with a situation like this.

These are the hidden realities that are faced when people help their families.

Hopefully there is some affidavit or something that can help protect your home, if not have you thought about how you will deal with it? I don't believe that your grandparents can "own" 2 houses, so one would have to be sold and the proceeds used for their care, would selling their house provide enough funds to get past the 5 year look back, if you could manage a refi at this time?

Talk to Medicaid, it's not like they don't already know about the house and I think that they are easier to deal with when it looks like everything is on the table and being discussed openly and honestly. They are always being hustled and I am sure they appreciate openness and truth.

If your grandparents need Medicaid anytime in the next 5 years, you have a problem; however, Medicaid doesn't make you sell the home, they put a recovery lien on the home that must be satisfied when the home is sold. The original financing should have included your grandparents on the loan but not as owners on the title to the land (maybe a lifetime estate to preserve their rights to live there instead?). You may be able to refinance and remove their names from the title and pray 5 years passes before they need Medicaid.

You may be able to avoid Medicaid recovery _if_ you can provide absolute proof you have paid every single cent of the down payment, mortgage, taxes and upkeep since the original purchase. There is an appeal process and you may be able to win there. It appears your grandparents might be living with you. If you provide in home care for a period of time (usually 2 years) there's a Medicaid exemption to allow a care giver to receive the home free and clear. You need a doctor's statement your grandparents needed in home care that would have otherwise required LTC.

I strongly recommend you engage an elder law and/or property expert attorney ASAP and start getting your ducks in a row.

It would seem that a paper trail showing the monthly payment coming from your checking account would put all of this into question.

Worried....oops.....giggling about that....though, when you consider the “weight” of the burden Medicaid places on the house....maybe lean is a bit more accurate......

But, still won’t help. Medicaid has a 5 year look back. Like I wrote, if they get the mortgage holder to agree to this...AND if they can get past the 5 year look back...then Medicaid won’t see the asset suddenly removed from her parents possession.

OP can you refinance the house and have your grandparents removed as co-signers?

Oh dear....you cannot protect “your” home, since legally they own it.

medicaid will put a lean on the property to recover from the profit of the sale.

if you transfer the title into your own name only...there is still a 5 year look back, plus the mortgage holder is not likely to release anyone from the obligation to pay.

go talk to a lawyer specializing in elder care law.