Will Medicaid count money in my child’s name?
Short answer: Not if it is truly the child’s money. But if the applicant put money in the child’s name during the look-back, or still controls it, Medicaid may treat it as a gift or as the applicant’s asset.
Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.
Medicaid counts assets the applicant owns or can access. Money that genuinely belongs to an adult child does not count.
Problems arise when:
- the applicant moved money into the child’s name during the look-back period. That is a transfer, which can cause a penalty;
- the applicant still uses or controls the money in the child’s name. The state may treat it as the applicant’s asset;
- the account is joint. Money in a joint account is presumed to belong to the applicant unless the child proves they contributed it;
- money was held “for safekeeping” by a child. If the applicant can get it back, it may still be theirs and countable.
Be honest about where money came from and who controls it.
Getting help
Every situation is different, and small facts can change the answer. If this question affects a real decision, especially with a spouse at home, a home, gifts or a trust, a Certified Medicaid Planner can apply your state’s rules to your situation. As a rough guide, published fees for help with an application range from about $500 to $6,000, and hourly help from about $150 to $600.
Related
Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.