How Not to Lose Medicaid (Part 2)
In my post last week I explained that once a Medicaid application is approved, everything isn’t on autopilot. What I mean is that you must be vigilant so as not to lose the benefits once you have them. That can happen a number of ways such as a change in circumstance.
Financial Elder Abuse Legislation – Part 2
In my post last week, I wrote about a type of financial fraud targeting the elderly that caught the attention of two New Jersey legislators. In two cases that were reported upon by the media, a man working with a nursing home convinced 2 seniors to sign powers of attorney appointing
Proposed Financial Elder Abuse Legislation – Part 1
There was a movie released a couple of years ago with Rosamund Pike called “I Care A Lot”. The main character finds elderly people without close family who are living alone. With the assistance of a doctor who examines and certifies that the senior is incompetent and in need of assistance, she petitions
Signing an Admissions Agreement on Behalf of Another (Part 4)
In last week’s post I distinguished the terms “personal guarantor” and “responsible party” which are found in most long term care facility contracts. This week I’ll explain why they are so important, in light of the increasing difficulty in obtaining Medicaid benefits under the government programs that cover long term care
Signing an Admissions Agreement on Behalf of Another (Part 3)
In my blog post last week, I was discussing the terms “responsible party” and “personal guarantor” which are found in most nursing home and assisted living facility admissions agreements. They do not mean the same thing and we must always look to the definitions set out in the specific agreement being
Signing an Admissions Agreement on Behalf of Another (Part 2)
Signing an Admissions Agreement on Behalf of Another (Part 2) In my blog post last week, I talked about the importance of knowing what is in a long term care facility admissions agreement before you sign it. Because the resident being admitted is usually unable to handle his or her affairs,
Signing an Admissions Agreement on Behalf of Another (Part 1)
As I have written about often recently, the State has raised the bar significantly in terms of what an applicant needs to produce and explain in order to qualify for Medicaid. The level of increased scrutiny leads to many more failed applications and reapplications than even a few years
New York Long Term Care Trust Act – Part 2
In last week’s post I wrote about a bill introduced in New York that we may eventually see in New Jersey. Modeled after a Washington state law, if passed it would mandate a payroll tax on all employees to cover an insurance policy that will provide coverage for their long term
Happily Married or Something Else? Part 2
In last week’s post I went back to the topic of Medicaid and more specifically how the need for long term care might affect both spouses. The assets of both spouses are counted for eligibility purposes even if only one spouse is applying for benefits. I always remind people that a second
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