With Republicans in control of Congress and the presidency, there is talk of eliminating the federal estate tax. In 2017 the tax affects only estates over $5.49 million, meaning that for more than 99 percent of Americans, it’s already been repealed. With no estate tax, do you still need a trust? While trusts can be used […]
Medicare is offering relief from penalties for certain Medicare beneficiaries who enrolled in Medicare Part A and had coverage through the individual marketplace. For a short time, these individuals will be able to enroll in Medicare Part B without paying a penalty for late enrollment.Individuals who do not enroll in Medicare Part B when they […]
How Medicare and Employer Coverage CoordinateMedicare benefits start at age 65, but many people continue working past that age, either by choice or need. It is important to understand how Medicare and employer coverage work together.Depending on your circumstances, Medicare is either the primary or secondary insurer. The primary insurer pays any medical bills first […]
A recent article in the New York Times discussed the relationship between the physical exercise of walking and the impact of vascular cognitive impairment. Vascular dementia is the second most diagnosed form of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by damaged blood vessels which impair blood flow to the brain. Patients often are also […]
Representing a commitment to healthy, active aging and wellness, the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) governed its 30th biennial competition in June 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. Competitors are men and women ages 50 and over. NSGA is a nonprofit Multi-Sports Council member of the United States Olympic Committee. Since its inception, it has grown to […]
There are a number of reasons why people avoid hiring a lawyer to assist them in their estate planning. Lawyers can be perceived as expensive and a hassle to deal with. Frankly, some people simply find dealing with an attorney stressful. And there certainly are some things that can be taken care of without legal […]
New Obama-era rules designed to give nursing home residents more control of their care are gradually going into effect. The rules give residents more options regarding meals and visitation as well as make changes to discharge and grievance procedures.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid finalized the rules — the first comprehensive update to nursing home […]
After initially delaying a rule intended to prevent financial advisers from steering their clients to bad retirement investments, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the rule will go into effect on June 9, 2017, but its future is still unclear.Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order delaying the so-called fiduciary rule, the […]
The Use of Immediate Annuities in Medicaid Planning for Married CouplesImmediate annuities can be a useful tool to protect the spouse of a nursing home resident who applies for Medicaid. These types of annuities allow the nursing home resident to spend down assets and give the spouse a guaranteed income. But immediate annuities may not […]
As baby boomers continue to work past retirement age, age discrimination lawsuits are becoming more common. Two out of three workers between ages 45 and 74 say they have seen or experienced age discrimination, according to AARP. However, experiencing it and proving it are two different things.The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids […]