What is a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust and how does it differ from a Revocable Living Trust?

A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is an irrevocable trust that transfers ownership of selected assets entirely out of the grantor’s reach so the assets are excluded from TennCare eligibility calculations and shielded from estate-recovery claims. A Revocable Living Trust (RLT) keeps the grantor in full control, allowing amendments, withdrawals, and use of trust property, which means those assets are still counted for Medicaid purposes; its chief benefits are probate avoidance and streamlined management upon incapacity rather than long-term-care protection.