Page 42

Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Eligibility Factors

Reissued June 9, 2026

Page 42 of I-1630 Replacing September 23, 2024

Revised/added text indicated by underscore

Deleted text indicated by “**” completely free of conditions imposed by others.

• Less Than Fee Simple Ownership

- Usufruct interest conveys ownership of a limited duration. A usufruct is a form of legal ownership and usually created through a deed or will or by operation of law.

- Equitable ownership can occur when an individual does not have legal title to property. For example, an individual who is making mortgage payment on a piece of property or an individual who has ownership interest in an un- probated estate have an equitable ownership in the property.

• Property Rights without Ownership

An individual may have certain rights with respect to property without also having the right to dispose of the property. The individual may have the right to sell their right but not the property.

Verification of Value of Real Property Verify the value in at least one of the following ways: • By current assessment if the assessed value makes the applicant/beneficiary ineligible. ** • By the current tax assessment, when it reflects the fair market value or identifies the total value upon which the assessment is based.

Note: Dividing the total value by the percentage of ownership may overstate what the person could sell their undivided interest for on the open market. The market value is what the market will pay. The value of the undivided interest shall be obtained from a knowledgeable source.

• By obtaining copies of the most recent act of the sale in the conveyance records, offer of sale, mortgage, judgement, or other documentary evidence.