When we are working with families who wish to engage in Medicaid planning or for whom a family member must file an application for benefits, there are some common misconceptions we observe. Families do not often appreciate that the Medicaid eligibility rules are extremely complicated and those rules are not always understood by the employees […]
February is National Caregivers Month. One task that can be daunting for family caregivers is identifying the assisted living community that best fits their loved one’s unique needs. It is important for caregivers to be able to identify the different assisted living options available. Sometimes a private home is no longer a safe environment. The […]
If you don’t pay your debts, creditors can get a court order to garnish your wages, but what if your income comes from Social Security? The answer is that it depends on the kind of debt. For most types of debt, including credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, Social Security cannot be garnished to […]
As long-term care insurance premiums keep rising and fewer companies are offering policies, seniors are looking for other ways to help pay for long-term care. Annuity “nursing home doublers” have emerged as a new long-term care option. These doublers can be beneficial, but as with any annuity product, customers should use caution before purchasing. An […]
Medicare beneficiaries may now discuss options for care at the end of life with their health care providers. Beneficiaries of course were already free to talk about advance care planning with their doctors or other qualified health professionals, but the practitioners could be reimbursed for such discussions only during a patient’s “Welcome to Medicare” visit, […]
Millions of Americans rely on Social Security for some or all of their retirement income, and millions more are paying into the system in the expectation that it will be there for them when they retire. What changes should be made to the current Social Security system, if any, to keep it solvent and ensure […]
For those who travel often, airline frequent flyer programs can be quite valuable. Accumulated miles from time spent in the air can be prudently utilized by consumers for deeply discounted or free flights. That can be quite beneficial. But have you ever considered what happens to those accumulated frequent flyer miles if the consumer dies […]
Because of the difference in the legal obligations and duties between being a conservator and a health An important aspect of the estate planning work we do for clients is to take steps to manage potential health-related issues. We do that in part by making sure that our clients’ plans include the right type of […]
Aging-in-place is a relatively new phrase used to describe something which has been very desirable to millions of Americans. The goal of aging-in-place is to remain in your chosen home, safely, for as long as possible. As we age and our physical and cognitive functioning changes, so should our chosen surroundings. For instance, over 30% […]
Although depression was initially given as the cause of actor Robin Williams’ suicide in 2014, his widow says autopsy results lay the blame on Lewy body dementia, a fairly common but hard-to-diagnose form of dementia. Susan Schneider Williams said that starting in 2013, her husband suffered from a confusing parade of mysterious symptoms, ranging from […]