What does the planner do that the free calculators do not?

It is yours to keep and change: every month (US) or week (UK, Ireland) for 15 years with costs rising, who pays each year (your parent’s income, savings, the home, Medicaid, the council, NHS or HSE, and the family), a Gifts tab for the US look-back, and a Family split tab that shares the cost among brothers and sisters, counting the income a caregiver gives up. Every rule is on one tab with its source and date. Your figures stay on your computer.

Does it use the same rules as the calculators?

Yes. The spreadsheet runs the same rules with ordinary formulas, and our tests recalculate it and check that every month, week and year matches the website for dozens of cases, including every US state’s figures.

Which figures are included?

US: the 2026 federal standards (spouse’s share $32,532 to $162,660, spouse’s income $2,705 to $4,066.50, home equity $752,000 to $1,130,000, the 300% income cap $2,982) and, for each state, the asset limit, penalty divisor, personal needs allowance and home equity limit where we could read them on the state’s own pages. Where we could not, the planner says so and you enter your state’s figure. UK: 2026/27 capital limits, tariff income, personal allowances, NHS-funded nursing care, Scottish free personal and nursing care. Ireland: Fair Deal’s 80% and 7.5%, the €36,000 disregard, the 3-year cap and the Nursing Home Loan.

Why do some US states say “enter yours”?

Some state Medicaid sites could not be read, and others publish figures that conflict. Rather than guess, the planner marks each state figure Official (read on the state’s page), Check (official site, seen only in a search) or Enter yours, with the agency link, so you can confirm it in a minute.

Does it work in Google Sheets?

Yes. Upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets. It also works in Excel (Windows and Mac) and LibreOffice. Standard formulas only, no macros.

Is this legal or financial advice?

No. It is a planning and estimating tool built on published rules. It does not suggest ways to give assets away or qualify sooner. Medicaid, council and HSE decisions are made case by case: confirm your parent’s case with the agency, an elder law attorney or a solicitor.

Care Costs Planner

Your mother or father needs a nursing home, a care home or care at home. How long will their savings last? When does Medicaid, the council or Fair Deal start paying? What will the family pay each year, and how do brothers and sisters split it fairly? A spreadsheet that works it out for 15 years, with official, dated figures for every US state, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Free first: the headline answer

Our free calculators run the same rules: Medicaid spend-down (US), care home fees (UK) and Fair Deal (Ireland).

Open a free calculator

What is in the planner

Start here. Your parent’s savings, income, home and care, and the answers: how long savings pay for care, when public help starts, what is protected for a spouse at home, what your parent pays then, and what the family pays.
Year by year. 15 years of care costs and who pays them: your parent’s income, savings, the home (deferred payment or Nursing Home Loan), Medicaid, the council and NHS, or the HSE, and the family.
Gifts (US). Gifts in the 60-month look-back (California’s 30-month phase-in included) and the penalty months they cause.
Family split. Share the family’s cost equally, by income or by agreed shares, counting the income a caregiving sibling gives up.
Rules. Every figure with its source, the date we read it and how sure we are, including the 51-row US state table. Update a figure in one cell.
Three worked examples (separate, filled-in files), one per edition.

The worked examples

Example	The planner shows
A widowed mother in Pennsylvania, moving into a nursing home in January 2027: $180,000 saved, $2,300 a month income, a $25,000 gift in 2025	Savings pay for 16 months; Medicaid from month 17; the gift costs the family $16,202
A father in England moving into a care home; nobody else lives in his house: £60,000 saved and a £250,000 home, fee £1,250 a week, council rate £950	The council helps after 5.5 years; then a top-up of £365 a week
A widowed mother in Ireland moving into a nursing home under Fair Deal: €60,000 saved and a €320,000 home, €1,350 a week	She pays €752 a week, the HSE €598; €302 after 3 years

See inside

Real pages from the US worked example that comes with your purchase. Tap any page to see it full size.

Start here tab: Your parent’s situation and the answers: how long savings pay for care, when Medicaid starts, what the family pays — **Start here.** Your parent’s situation and the answers: how long savings pay for care, when Medicaid starts, what the family pays.

Year by year tab: 15 years of care costs and who pays them: income, savings, Medicaid and the family — **Year by year.** 15 years of care costs and who pays them: income, savings, Medicaid and the family.

Gifts tab: Gifts in the look-back and the penalty months they cause — **Gifts.** Gifts in the look-back and the penalty months they cause.

Family split tab: The family’s share split among brothers and sisters, counting a caregiver’s lost income — **Family split.** The family’s share split among brothers and sisters, counting a caregiver’s lost income.

Rules tab: Every federal and state figure with its source, date read and confidence — **Rules.** Every federal and state figure with its source, date read and confidence.

Questions

What does the planner do that the free calculators do not?: It is yours to keep and change: every month (US) or week (UK, Ireland) for 15 years with costs rising, who pays each year (your parent’s income, savings, the home, Medicaid, the council, NHS or HSE, and the family), a Gifts tab for the US look-back, and a Family split tab that shares the cost among brothers and sisters, counting the income a caregiver gives up. Every rule is on one tab with its source and date. Your figures stay on your computer.
Does it use the same rules as the calculators?: Yes. The spreadsheet runs the same rules with ordinary formulas, and our tests recalculate it and check that every month, week and year matches the website for dozens of cases, including every US state’s figures.
Which figures are included?: US: the 2026 federal standards (spouse’s share $32,532 to $162,660, spouse’s income $2,705 to $4,066.50, home equity $752,000 to $1,130,000, the 300% income cap $2,982) and, for each state, the asset limit, penalty divisor, personal needs allowance and home equity limit where we could read them on the state’s own pages. Where we could not, the planner says so and you enter your state’s figure. UK: 2026/27 capital limits, tariff income, personal allowances, NHS-funded nursing care, Scottish free personal and nursing care. Ireland: Fair Deal’s 80% and 7.5%, the €36,000 disregard, the 3-year cap and the Nursing Home Loan.
Why do some US states say “enter yours”?: Some state Medicaid sites could not be read, and others publish figures that conflict. Rather than guess, the planner marks each state figure Official (read on the state’s page), Check (official site, seen only in a search) or Enter yours, with the agency link, so you can confirm it in a minute.
Does it work in Google Sheets?: Yes. Upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets. It also works in Excel (Windows and Mac) and LibreOffice. Standard formulas only, no macros.
Is this legal or financial advice?: No. It is a planning and estimating tool built on published rules. It does not suggest ways to give assets away or qualify sooner. Medicaid, council and HSE decisions are made case by case: confirm your parent’s case with the agency, an elder law attorney or a solicitor.
What if it isn't right for me?: Ask for a refund within 14 days and you get your money back, even after downloading. See the refund policy.

Rules read on 9 November 2026 on CMS (2026 spousal impoverishment standards), each state’s Medicaid manual, the Care and support statutory guidance, Scottish Government CCD 1/2026, gov.wales, nidirect and the HSE. General information, not legal or financial advice.