Legislation signed by President Bush on February 8, 2006 will make it all the more difficult to qualify for benefits:

• The look-back period (the time Medicaid can review all your financial transactions is now extended to five years).
• Gifts to others during the look-back period will have to be spent on care.
• If your house has net equity of either $500,000 or $750,000 (your state will set the actual amount) you do not qualify for Medicaid if single.
• So-called Medicaid annuities are of no value because the applicant for benefits must name the state as the beneficiary.
• If you have made a deposit in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) it must be spent on your care.