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Certified Medicaid Planner Exam CMP QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
Exam Coverage Summary - CMP® (Certified Medicaid Planner)
Based on the CMP Governing Board's Job Analysis Report and examination blueprint :
Topic Area Weight (out of 160 questions)
Medicaid Planning Background/Rationale 11
Medicaid Eligibility Assessment & Planning 6
General Asset-Eligibility Rules 13
Community Spouse Asset Rules 11
Asset Eligibility Strategies 16
Divestments 13
Trusts 12
Annuities & Promissory Notes 16
Income Eligibility 17
Homestead & Family Farm 13
Applying for Medicaid 9
Post-Eligibility Issues 8
Estate Recovery 7
Advocacy Opportunities 5
TOTAL 160
Key Exam Facts :
• 160 multiple-choice questions
• 3 hours to complete
• Passing score: 65% (104 correct answers)
• Closed-book, formula sheet provided
• Covers federal & state-specific Medicaid rules
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1. A 72-year-old client enters a nursing home and has $180,000 in countable assets. The state's
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) maximum is $148,620. What is the minimum amount
the client must spend down before Medicaid eligibility?
A) $0—all assets protected for community spouse
B) $31,380
C) $148,620
D) $180,000
Answer: B
*The institutionalized spouse may transfer up to the CSRA maximum to the community spouse; any
amount above that must be spent down. $180,000 - $148,620 = $31,380.*
2. Which federal statute provides the primary legal authority for the Medicaid program?
A) Title XVIII of the Social Security Act
B) Title XIX of the Social Security Act
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C) The Affordable Care Act
D) The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
Answer: B
*Title XIX of the Social Security Act, enacted in 1965, establishes Medicaid as a joint federal-state
program providing health coverage to eligible low-income individuals .*
3. A client transferred $120,000 to her daughter 18 months ago and is now applying for long-term care
Medicaid. The state's average monthly nursing home cost is $10,000. What penalty period will she face?
A) 0 months (outside look-back)
B) 6 months
C) 12 months
D) 18 months
Answer: C
*The look-back period is 60 months; the transfer falls within it. Penalty = transfer amount ÷ average
monthly cost: $120,000 ÷ $10,000 = 12 months of ineligibility.*
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4. In an income-cap state, a client's monthly income exceeds the Medicaid income limit by $800. What
planning tool is typically used to establish eligibility?
A) Revocable Living Trust
B) Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust)
C) Special Needs Trust
D) Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust
Answer: B
A Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) allows excess income to be deposited into the trust, removing it
from countable income calculations for Medicaid eligibility .
5. Mr. Johnson applies for Medicaid and owns a primary residence worth $450,000. The state's home
equity limit is $688,000. He intends to return home. How is this property treated?
A) Fully countable asset—must be sold
B) Exempt as long as he intends to return
Certified Medicaid Planner Exam CMP QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
Exam Coverage Summary - CMP® (Certified Medicaid Planner)
Based on the CMP Governing Board's Job Analysis Report and examination blueprint :
Topic Area Weight (out of 160 questions)
Medicaid Planning Background/Rationale 11
Medicaid Eligibility Assessment & Planning 6
General Asset-Eligibility Rules 13
Community Spouse Asset Rules 11
Asset Eligibility Strategies 16
Divestments 13
Trusts 12
Annuities & Promissory Notes 16
Income Eligibility 17
Homestead & Family Farm 13
Applying for Medicaid 9
Post-Eligibility Issues 8
Estate Recovery 7
Advocacy Opportunities 5
TOTAL 160
Key Exam Facts :
• 160 multiple-choice questions
• 3 hours to complete
• Passing score: 65% (104 correct answers)
• Closed-book, formula sheet provided
• Covers federal & state-specific Medicaid rules
, Page 2 of 135
1. A 72-year-old client enters a nursing home and has $180,000 in countable assets. The state's
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) maximum is $148,620. What is the minimum amount
the client must spend down before Medicaid eligibility?
A) $0—all assets protected for community spouse
B) $31,380
C) $148,620
D) $180,000
Answer: B
*The institutionalized spouse may transfer up to the CSRA maximum to the community spouse; any
amount above that must be spent down. $180,000 - $148,620 = $31,380.*
2. Which federal statute provides the primary legal authority for the Medicaid program?
A) Title XVIII of the Social Security Act
B) Title XIX of the Social Security Act
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C) The Affordable Care Act
D) The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
Answer: B
*Title XIX of the Social Security Act, enacted in 1965, establishes Medicaid as a joint federal-state
program providing health coverage to eligible low-income individuals .*
3. A client transferred $120,000 to her daughter 18 months ago and is now applying for long-term care
Medicaid. The state's average monthly nursing home cost is $10,000. What penalty period will she face?
A) 0 months (outside look-back)
B) 6 months
C) 12 months
D) 18 months
Answer: C
*The look-back period is 60 months; the transfer falls within it. Penalty = transfer amount ÷ average
monthly cost: $120,000 ÷ $10,000 = 12 months of ineligibility.*
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4. In an income-cap state, a client's monthly income exceeds the Medicaid income limit by $800. What
planning tool is typically used to establish eligibility?
A) Revocable Living Trust
B) Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust)
C) Special Needs Trust
D) Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust
Answer: B
A Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) allows excess income to be deposited into the trust, removing it
from countable income calculations for Medicaid eligibility .
5. Mr. Johnson applies for Medicaid and owns a primary residence worth $450,000. The state's home
equity limit is $688,000. He intends to return home. How is this property treated?
A) Fully countable asset—must be sold
B) Exempt as long as he intends to return
