Elder Law & Estate Planning News
Resources for Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia
Although caring for people with dementia can be challenging, a variety of resources can help caregivers assist their loved ones.
What You Need to Know About Medicaid’s Personal Needs Allowance
Seniors living in Medicaid-funded nursing homes receive a personal needs allowance – a monthly stipend the Medicaid recipient can use to pay for needs that Medicaid does not cover.
What Are Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts?
When you put your assets in a MAPT, Medicaid in certain states will not count the money in the trust toward its resource limit.
Majority of Adult Children Cannot Support Boomer Parents, Surveys Find
A recent survey finds that 55 percent of adult children say they are not financially prepared to help their Baby Boomer parents cope with rising inflation and living expenses.
Can a Nursing Home Hold Friends or Family Members Responsible For a Resident’s Care?
If your loved one is entering a nursing home, you may worry whether you could be liable for their care.
How Much Long-Term Care Insurance Should You Purchase?
A number of considerations go into how much long-term care insurance any consumer should buy.
Are You Missing Out on Benefits? Identify the Programs Available to Seniors Like You
Many retirees meet the requirements for federal and state benefits programs, yet do not know they are eligible and miss opportunities to receive assistance.
Plan Ahead Before Seeking Nursing Home Care: Avoid Unnecessary Debt for You and Your Family
Unfortunately, neither health insurance nor Medicare covers long-term care. Medicaid could become your only option, so do what you can to plan ahead.
Stop Using Unsafe Portable Bed Rails Immediately, National Safety Commission Warns
An advisory issued in June warns people against using a series of adult portable bed rail models after at least three people were entangled in them and died of asphyxia.
Supreme Court Rules State Medicaid Programs Can Recoup a Larger Share of Injury Settlements
In a case involving a teen who was catastrophically injured, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that state Medicaid programs may be repaid from settlement funds for future medical expenses.
How to Get Into a Nursing Home as a Medicaid Recipient
While Medicaid helps pay for nursing home care, being admitted to a nursing home as a Medicaid recipient is not always easy. There are several ways to navigate the process, depending on your situation.
Some Social Security Beneficiaries Can Get Retroactive Payments — But at a Cost
If you need a lot of cash on hand upon retirement, Social Security offers a lump-sum payment option that’s worth six months of retroactive benefits. However, it comes at a cost. It is important to understand the details before agreeing to the payment.
Medicare Enrollment Period Extended for Those Who’ve Been Getting a Busy Signal
In recent months, phone lines at the Social Security Administration have been experiencing major technical problems, preventing some people from enrolling in Medicare in a timely manner.
Which States Have Been Hardest Hit by the Nursing Home Staffing Crisis?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nursing home staffing shortages across the United States, even forcing facilities to close, but some states have been hit harder than others.
Medicare Advantage Plans Often Wrongly Deny Necessary Care, Study Finds
In an alarming number of cases, private Medicare Advantage plans are denying coverage for medical services that would be covered under original Medicare, according to a federal investigation.