Can someone receive ALTCS/Medicaid benefits even if they have made gifts during the preceding five years?
If gifts have been made during the “lookback” period, the applicant will be ineligible for a number of months calculated from the date of application (NOT from the date of the gift). The ineligibility period is determined by dividing the value of the gift by a number intended to approximate the monthly cost of long term care in the community. That figure in Arizona depends on the county of residence and changes each year. The actual application of this penalty period is further complicated by multiple gifts, return of some or all of a gift and other factors; this overview must be reviewed with caution. As with many of the other principles described in this FAQ, the precise application of this calculation varies from state to state, and only Arizona calculations are explained here.
