Q: I have inherited an IRA from a friend who was on Medicaid in Wyoming. Am I required to give it back to Medicaid?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
Inheriting an IRA from a friend who was on Medicaid can bring up concerns, but you’re not automatically required to give the money back to Medicaid. Medicaid may attempt to recover some benefits paid to your friend, but this usually happens after the recipient's death and generally targets their estate. An IRA inherited by a non-spouse beneficiary like yourself typically isn’t part of that estate, meaning Medicaid would not have a claim on it.
That being said, Medicaid recovery rules vary by state, and Wyoming may have specific regulations regarding Medicaid estate recovery. It’s important to understand whether your friend’s Medicaid benefits are subject to such recovery and if the IRA you inherited falls under those rules. Since you are not a spouse or direct family member, it’s likely that Medicaid won’t be able to seek repayment from the IRA directly.
You should review the details of your situation to ensure you fully understand the implications. Talking to someone who knows state laws can give you clarity and help confirm your next steps. This way, you can feel confident about managing your inheritance properly.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
