529 Plans and Medicaid #Medicaid
Maria asked me to handle the Medicaid application that needed to be filed on behalf of her father, George. We went over the assets he has left to spend down. That’s when Maria told me that George had set up 529 plans for his granddaughters. “Do we have to
What is Palliative Care? #palliativecare
Human life expectancy in the past 100 years has been substantially lengthened as a result of advances in medical science. However, as we know the quality of an extended life span isn’t always great. Many people live with serious illnesses such as COPD, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s Disease etc.
Correcting a Medicaid Mistake from 15 Years Ago (Part 2) #Medicaid, #MondayMorningBlog
Last week I was telling you about Monica’s dilemma. She thought the home she and her husband, Paul bought together with her mom had been retitled to them 15 years ago with Mom retaining a legal right to live there for her life time. But, that’s not what happened.
Correcting a Medicaid Mistake 15 Years in the Making #MondayMorningBlog
I received a call the other day concerning the following dilemma. Monica and her husband, Paul had bought a home together with Monica’s mom 30 years ago. The home was held as tenants in common, meaning if, for example, Mom died her share would pass by way of her
Do-It-Yourself Wills #doityourselfwill
Do a search online and you can quickly find advertisements for websites and software that will help you prepare your own will and other legal documents. Some choose this option to save the legal fees. But is this being “penny wise but pound foolish”? Estate planning is as much
Don’t Fall Victim to Elder Fraud (Part 2) #MondayMorningBlog
Last week I was sharing with you the most common scams that target the elderly. This week let’s talk about tips to help avoid these scams, provided courtesy of the National Council on Aging. Never sign blank insurance claim forms. Never give blanket permission to a medical provider to bill for
Don’t Fall Victim to Elder Fraud
In the information age and with the explosion of technology have come fraud, theft and deception of various kinds. Elder fraud is the act of targeting older adults by attempting to deceive them with promises of goods, services or financial benefits that do not exist, were never intended to
2016 VA and Medicaid – Changes and Trends #2016VA #2016 Medicaid
This week I thought I would discuss some changes and trends that are - and in the future may - make it more difficult to qualify for two programs that provide critical benefits to pay for long term care, the VA’s Aid and Attendance and New Jersey’s Medicaid program.
What Happens to Social Security Benefits after Death (Part 2) #SocialSecuritySurvivorBenefits
A few weeks ago (1-11-16 post) I was discussing what happens to Social Security benefits when someone dies. Specifically I am talking about the entitlements of a surviving spouse. These benefits are commonly referred to as survivor benefits. Other family members, such as disabled children (provided the disability began before
Noticing Changes in Elderly Family Members (Part 2)
Two weeks ago (1/4/16 post) I was pointing out that while the holiday season is a time when we reconnect with family who we may not have seen for some time, health and behavior changes in the elderly may also become more noticeable. So what can or should you be doing?