When you or someone you love needs long-term care, the pressure to take the right next steps can feel overwhelming. The scariest part of preparing for long-term care needs is the unknown and there are plenty of them… When will you need care? How much will it cost? Can you stay in your home? Will there be any assets protected for your loved ones? These are all valid and important questions, and rarely do they have a clear-cut answer. Our Medicaid asset protection program is designed to create the best path forward for your own unique circumstances and goals. With Rhode Island nursing homes costing upwards of $100,000 per year and challenges to receiving in-home care, it can be difficult to know where to turn next. You are in the right place.
Founding Attorney and lead Medicaid lawyer, Samantha McCarthy Jarvis, knows the fears and challenges of caring for aging loved ones well because she became an attorney after watching her own family members struggle to afford care. She knew there had to be a better way, one that protects what families have worked for while making sure they receive the care they deserve. That’s when she discovered Medicaid planning.
At McCarthy Law, we help Rhode Island families legally and ethically protect their assets while navigating how to apply for Medicaid the right way. Medicaid can provide essential support for long-term care, but the application process can be confusing, and small mistakes can lead to delays or denials. Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to a recent diagnosis or hospitalization, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Why Medicaid Planning Matters
Many people assume they need to spend down everything they own before qualifying for Medicaid. That is simply not true. With the right legal guidance, you may be able to preserve your home, savings, and other assets while still receiving the care you or your loved one needs.
When done correctly, Medicaid planning can provide vital care for aging loved ones, support family caregivers with reasonable wages, and protect family legacies for generations to come.
One of the most important reasons to start planning early is the five-year lookback period. When you apply for Medicaid in Rhode Island, the state will review financial transactions going back five years. Certain gifts or transfers can trigger penalties that delay your eligibility for benefits and, in some cases, make obtaining care a serious challenge.
Our Rhode Island Medicaid lawyers help families prepare before a crisis and support those who need to act quickly after a diagnosis, injury, or hospital stay. The sooner you begin, the more options you may have. Even after an injury or diagnosis, crisis planning can help shelter a substantial amount of an individual’s estate from the requirements for spend down in a well-structured plan.
Whether you are navigating nursing home care, assisted living, or in-home support, we can help you plan with confidence.
Our Medicaid Legal Services
At McCarthy Law, we offer comprehensive Medicaid planning services to help you prepare, apply, and respond with confidence. Every family is different, and we take the time to understand your goals so we can create a plan that fits your needs and protects what matters most.
Our Rhode Island Medicaid lawyer services include:
- Medicaid eligibility assessment
We help you understand whether you qualify now or what steps are needed to prepare. - Asset protection strategies
We guide you in using tools like irrevocable trusts to preserve assets and meet Medicaid rules. - Application preparation and submission
We manage the paperwork and documentation to help prevent costly mistakes or delays. - Crisis planning
If a loved one is already in a nursing home or hospital, we help you act quickly while exploring every available option. Our Elder Care Coordinator can offer advocacy within care facilities and beyond to help support you and your loved ones even when family members or friends can’t be there. - Appeals for denied Medicaid applications
If your application has been denied, we walk you through the appeal process and fight for the coverage you deserve. - Ongoing support and updates
We stay connected throughout the process to answer questions and ensure your plan stays on track.
Applying for Medicaid is not just about filling out forms. It is about protecting your future, your family, and your peace of mind. We are here to guide you every step of the way.
Medicaid Denials and Appeals
If your Medicaid application has been denied, you are not alone and you are not out of options. Denials are more common than people realize and often happen because of missing information, misunderstandings about eligibility, or problems related to the five-year lookback period.
At McCarthy Law, we understand how stressful a denial can be, especially when care is needed right away. While we are proud to say that no Medicaid application we have submitted has ever been denied, we regularly help clients who come to us after filing on their own or working with someone else.
Our team will:
- Carefully review the denial notice and identify what went wrong
- Gather and organize the correct documentation
- Prepare a strong appeal that reflects your situation and needs
- Represent you throughout the appeals process
- Work to secure the care and coverage you deserve as quickly as possible
As Rhode Island Medicaid lawyers, we have deep knowledge of the system and a track record of helping families move forward with clarity and confidence. If you have received a denial, do not wait. These cases are time sensitive, and reaching out now could be the difference between vital care or delays.
Why Rhode Island Families Trust Our Medicaid Attorneys
At McCarthy Law, we understand that planning for long-term care is not just a legal process. It is deeply personal. Families come to us during some of the most overwhelming and emotional times in their lives, and we take that responsibility to heart.
Our founder, Samantha McCarthy Jarvis, started this firm after seeing her own family struggle to afford care. That experience drives everything we do. We are here to offer compassionate, honest guidance and help you make decisions that protect both your future and your peace of mind.
Here is why so many Rhode Island families choose us:
- We are a female-founded team with many members who have lived through the challenges of caregiving for loved ones with Dementia, cancer, and other challenging diagnoses
- No Medicaid application submitted through our office has ever been denied
- We focus on understanding your values so that your plan reflects exactly what you need moving forward
- We serve clients across Rhode Island in our East Greenwich office and on-site at their nursing homes, residential locations, or in spaces that they feel comfortable meeting with our team members
- We take the time to explain what you are receiving so that you’re never entering an agreement blindly or confused about what is in included in your care plan
We are proud to say that no Medicaid application submitted through our office has ever been denied. That’s not luck. It is because we take the time to get it right.
We are a Rhode Island-based, female-founded law firm that believes legal planning should be clear, holistic and rooted in care. We don’t rush. We don’t cut corners. We treat you and your family the way we would want ours to be treated.
Start Today for a Brighter Tomorrow
Whether you are planning ahead or responding to an urgent care need, McCarthy Law is here to help you move forward with clarity and peace of mind. Our Rhode Island Medicaid lawyers will walk you through every step, explain your options in plain language, and create a plan that protects your future.
You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help you.
Fill out the form below to schedule your free discovery call now.