Have you heard about the gift tax exclusion? Most people have heard that there’s no need to file a gift tax return for gifts totaling less than $14,000. But that’s a tax rule. If an elderly family member makes gifts of any amount, and then later finds themselves in need of help with medical or long-term care expenses, those gifts are called “improper” and disqualify them for Medicaid assistance. Medicaid looks back 5 years to tally up improper gifts. (August, 2017)