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Home→Agencies→Medicaid Estate Recovery→Pennsylvania

Medicaid Estate Recovery in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (the state Medicaid program) recovers what it paid for long-term care from the probate estate of recipients who were 55 or older when they received it. Recovery covers nursing facility care, home and community-based services, and related hospital and prescription services provided on or after August 15, 1994.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Medicaid Recovery

Pennsylvania

pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/estate-recovery→

Administering agency

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services — Estate Recovery Program

Phone800-528-3708
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

62 P.S. 1412; 55 Pa. Code Chapter 258

Verified Jul 2026

Medicaid Estate Recovery in Pennsylvania: key facts

Recovery scope
Medical Assistance paid for nursing facility care, home and community-based services (HCBS), and related hospital and prescription services, provided on or after August 15, 1994.
Who is subject
Recipients who were 55 or older when they received the long-term care assistance. Recovery is made from the probate estate only.
Recovery deferred
Collection is postponed until the last of: the death of a surviving spouse; the death of a child who is blind or totally and permanently disabled; the date a surviving child turns 21; or the death of, transfer by, or vacating of the property by a sibling who has an equity interest in the property and lived in the home for at least one year before the decedent died.
Undue hardship waiver
Heirs or the estate may request an undue-hardship waiver from the Department of Human Services, with a separate request form for income-producing property.

Governing law: 62 P.S. 1412; 55 Pa. Code Chapter 258

Frequently asked questions

Pennsylvania recovers what Medical Assistance paid for long-term care — nursing facility care, home and community-based services, and related hospital and prescription services on or after August 15, 1994 — from the probate estate of recipients who were 55 or older when they received it.

Heirs or the estate may file an undue-hardship waiver request with the Department of Human Services. A separate form is used for situations involving income-producing property.

When someone dies

Steps after a death in Pennsylvania

4-step process for Pennsylvania Department of Human Services — Estate Recovery Program.

View details →
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

  • pacodeandbulletin.gov
  • pa.gov

Data sourced from Medicaid Estate Recovery in Pennsylvania primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.

Medicaid Recovery

Pennsylvania

pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/estate-recovery→

Administering agency

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services — Estate Recovery Program

Phone800-528-3708
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

62 P.S. 1412; 55 Pa. Code Chapter 258

Verified Jul 2026
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