In this article, our Tinley Park Medicaid attorneys discuss life estate deeds and irrevocable trusts. Their use allows yourself to be eligible for Medicaid assistance with long-term care without drawing down your assets. We also discuss irrevocable trusts and how they are used to prevent Medicaid from seizing assets upon your death if Medicaid pays for your long-term care. Since Medicaid requires your assets to be spent to be eligible for long term care assistance, this information can be invaluable to protect assets for your loved ones. The Medicaid 5-Year Look Back Period is explained, which delays eligibility for Medicaid when you transfer certain assets to your family members. We compare life estate deeds and revocable living trusts as Medicaid planning tools and ensure you know the choices that are right for you and your loved ones.