Every year, thousands of American families lose their homes and life savings to long-term care costs they never planned for. Nursing home care averages over $9,000 a month. Medicaid can help — but only after you've spent down nearly everything you own. Most families don't learn about their options until it's too late. A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is one of the most powerful legal tools available to protect your assets. But the rules are complex, the timing matters, and the consequences of waiting can be devastating. This book explains — in plain English — what a MAPT is, how it works, when to start planning, and how it fits with the rest of your estate plan. No legal jargon. No sales pitch. Just the information you need to make an informed decision before the five-year clock starts ticking. Inside you'll find: • How Medicaid eligibility actually works — and why most people get it wrong • The five-year lookback period and why timing is everything • How Medicaid Estate Recovery (MERP) can claim your home after you're gone • The difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts — and why it matters • Real-life planning scenarios showing what works and what doesn't • A scored self-assessment to see if a MAPT is right for you • Checklists, worksheets, and family conversation guides • A 90-day action plan to get started Whether you're planning for yourself or helping aging parents, this guide gives you the knowledge to protect what took a lifetime to build. Written by James K. Boyles, CLU, CFS — a published estate planning author and expert reviewer with more than 40 years of experience in insurance and financial services.