My spouse is in the final stages of Alzheimer's and has been admitted to a Massachusetts nursing home. We are applying for Medicaid and we must meet a stringent asset test in order to qualify. The law allows us to protect assets the exceed the limit ($2,000 for my spouse and $102,000 for me) by spending down. I understand that I may purchase small life insurance policies, a prepaid burial contract and plot, a car, home furnishings, and I can pay off the mortgage, make improvements, prepay real estate tax and home insurance and other home related expenses. My question is can I pay off my credit card accounts, and PLUS loans that we have on the children?