OAR 461-145-0310: Life Estate

(1) For all programs except OSIP, OSIPM, and all QMB programs, if a financial group (see OAR 461-110-0530) is living in real property (see OAR 461-001-0000) while a member holds a life estate (see OAR 461-001-0000) in this property, the property is treated as a home (see OAR 461-145-0220). In all other situations, a life estate is treated as real property (see OAR 461-145-0420). (2) In the OSIP, OSIPM, and QMB-DW programs: (a) For purposes of this section and section (3) of this rule, the value of the rights conferred by the life estate is established by the Life Estate and Remainder Interest Table of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, State Medicaid Manual, section 3258.9(A). (b) A life estate owned by a member of the financial group is treated as follows: (A) If a member of the financial group is living on the property the value of the life estate is treated as a home (see OAR 461-145-0220). (B) If a member of the financial group is not living on the property the value of the life estate is counted as a resource. The life estate is considered unavailable if other parties with an ownership interest in the property refuse to sell their interest or refuse to purchase the life estate interest in the property. (3) In the OSIP and OSIPM programs: (a) A transfer for less than fair market value (see OAR 461-001-0000) in which a member of the financial group retains a life estate is a disqualifying transfer. A transfer is considered for less than fair market value if the fair market value of the transferred resource on the day prior to the transfer is greater than the sum of the value of the rights conferred by the life estate plus the compensation received for the transfer. (b) If a member of the financial group purchases a life estate interest in the home of another individual on or after July 1, 2006, the purchase is considered a transfer of resources unless the client resides in this home for at least 12 consecutive months after the date of the purchase. The value of the transfer for a client who does not reside in the home for at least 12 consecutive months is calculated by using the purchase price of the life estate.