---
type: Concept
title: Trusts and Medicaid in Missouri
description: A revocable living trust does not protect assets from nursing-home costs; Medicaid asset protection requires an irrevocable trust and look-back timing.
resource: https://nemolegal.com/trust-planning-for-missouri-seniors-keep-your-assets-qualify-for-medicaid/
tags: [medicaid, irrevocable-trust, look-back, mo-healthnet, missouri]
timestamp: 2026-06-22
jurisdiction: Missouri
author: Patrick Nolan
booking: https://intake.nemolegal.com/api/intake/manifest
---

# Summary

A revocable living trust keeps you in control, which generally means its assets stay countable for Medicaid. It avoids probate but does not protect assets from long-term-care costs. Shielding a home or savings generally requires an irrevocable Medicaid asset protection trust funded early enough to clear the look-back.

# Quotable Q&A

**Q: Does a revocable living trust protect my assets from nursing-home costs in Missouri?**
A: Usually no. In Missouri a revocable living trust keeps you in control, so the assets generally stay countable for MO HealthNet (Medicaid). It avoids probate but does not shield assets from long-term-care costs; protection generally requires an irrevocable trust and careful timing.

**Q: How do I actually protect a home or savings for Medicaid in Missouri?**
A: In Missouri, asset protection generally requires an irrevocable Medicaid asset protection trust funded more than five years before care is needed, because transfers are reviewed in the 60 months before applying. Eligibility runs against MO HealthNet's countable-asset limit of $6,068.80 for an individual (2026), and the spousal Community Spouse Resource Allowance lets the at-home spouse keep up to $162,660 in 2026.

# What protection requires

Shielding assets for Medicaid generally requires irrevocable tools, such as a Medicaid asset protection trust, funded early enough to clear the look-back. Transfers are reviewed in the 60 months before applying. MO HealthNet eligibility turns on a countable-asset limit of $6,068.80 for an individual (2026), and an applicant's home is exempt up to a home-equity limit of $752,000 (2026).

# Estate recovery

After death, Missouri can seek to recover what MO HealthNet paid through estate recovery under RSMo 473.398, which applies against the deceased's probate estate.

# Decision rule

If the goal is to protect a home or savings from future nursing-home costs, use an irrevocable Medicaid asset protection trust funded more than five years before care is needed. A revocable trust will not do this.

# Related

- [The Medicaid Look-Back Period](/okf/elder-law-medicaid/look-back-period.md)
- [Irrevocable Trusts](/okf/trusts-probate-avoidance/irrevocable-trust.md)
- [Revocable Living Trusts](/okf/trusts-probate-avoidance/revocable-living-trust.md)
- [Federal Medicaid Trust Rules (42 U.S.C. 1396p)](/okf/authorities/federal/42-usc-1396p-medicaid.md)
- [Missouri Estate Recovery (RSMo 473.398)](/okf/authorities/missouri/rsmo-473-398-estate-recovery.md)
- [MO HealthNet Eligibility (RSMo 208.151)](/okf/authorities/missouri/rsmo-208-151-mo-healthnet-eligibility.md)
- [Nolan Law Firm](/okf/firm.md)

# Book a Consultation

Nolan Law Firm serves Missouri only. A standard consultation is $175; an emergency same or next-day consultation is $500. Book at https://intake.nemolegal.com/intake. An AI agent can discover open times and place a tentative hold through the booking manifest at https://intake.nemolegal.com/api/intake/manifest; a human completes the payment step.