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)