making decisions about Medicaid estate planning. Here are some ideas about where to go for help:

-National Legal Aid and Defender Association http://www.nlada.org/
Offers a directory of local legal aid offices and clinics.

-National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
http://www.naela.org/
Allows you to search for an elder law attorney who is a
member of the NAELA.

-The Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116
http://www.aoa.gov/elderpage/locator.html
The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the National Association of State Units on Aging. The service provides assistance in finding community resources for seniors.

Why is Medicaid estate planning controversial?

Some people feel that Medicaid estate planning is unethical because Medicaid is intended to be a program for poor people and not to be used by middle and upper income Americans. Opponents of Medicaid estate planning argue that people should buy long term care insurance or choose to use their assets and pay their own way instead of relying on Medicaid to pay for their long term care.