Longtime Partners but Never Married (Part 3)
In this 3rd post on longtime partners living together but never married, Bill needed long term care and Mary was concerned about how to pay for it and at the same time be able to afford her own living expenses. As I explained last week, the house they lived in and
Longtime Partners but Never Married (Part 2)
In my post last week I began to tell you about Bill and Mary. Partners for 50 years, they never actually tied the knot. Bill had a stroke and they are now faced with $14,000 per month in long term care expenses. The home they live in is owned by Bill. Mary is not
What Makes an Annuity Medicaid Compliant – Part 3
In last week’s post, I explained how a Medicaid compliant annuity (MCA)works in a married couple situation. This week we’ll see how it can be helpful in the case of a single Medicaid applicant. An MCA can be useful in preserving some assets when there is no chance of waiting out a
What Makes an Annuity Medicaid Compliant? (Part 2)
In last week’s post I explained what makes an annuity a Medicaid compliant annuity (MCA). This week I’ll explain how MCAs are helpful in qualifying for Medicaid. If you are a frequent reader of this blog you know that Medicaid is a needs based benefit with an asset limitation and also income
What Makes an Annuity Medicaid Compliant?
We have recently received a number of calls inquiring about Medicaid compliant annuities. Similar to QITs which I wrote about here a couple of months ago, there is much misunderstanding of what is and is not a Medicaid compliant annuity (MCA) and when it can be used. First, let’s clearly define an
Don’t Forget About the Elective Share – Part 2
Last week I wrote about Jim’s call to our office. His dad died leaving everything to Jim, including the task of taking care of his mom who had been living at home needing nursing home level care. Jim had found a nursing facility who would take her in. It would cost him $100,000
Don’t Forget About the Elective Share
Jim’s dad had recently died leaving him to care for his mom. His dad knew that Jim would need to place his mom in a facility. She could not longer be cared for at home. He wanted to provide for that care but he also wanted to leave Jim an inheritance. Dad went to an
Divorce and Medicaid – Part 3
In last week’s second part of my post, I laid out some basic strategies for couples who, while still legally married and living together, view themselves as separated or divorced. Unfortunately in the eyes of Medicaid you aren’t divorced unless you’ve got the Judgment of Divorce to prove it. When I tell
Divorce and Medicaid – Part 2
Last week I wrote about the recent calls we’ve received regarding couples in unhappy marriages where one spouse now needs care. Even though they may have kept their finances separate for many years, under Medicaid rules the healthy spouse’s assets will be counted as well as the ill spouse’s assets when
Divorce and Medicaid – Part 1
Divorce rates in America have steadily risen for years and much has been written about it. There are, however, many more couples in unhappy marriages who for varied reasons did not go the divorce route. For some, it may have been about being more comfortable with the life they know vs. the