It is natural to feel a certain sense of security when you know that you will qualify for Medicare as a source of health insurance when you are 65. There are out-of-pocket expenses that you have to pay yourself, but if you retire with some resources and income, you should be able to manage them. This being stated, there is one complete void in the coverage that is not easy to overcome on your own. Medicare will not pay for a stay in a nursing home, and it does not cover in-home care. About … [Read more...] about Medicaid Spouse Allowances Can Provide Relief
Elder Law
Be Aware of Medicare Gaps
As elder law attorneys, we are tightly focused on matters that are of interest to senior citizens. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.6 percent of people in Rochester were 65 years of age and older in 2019. This is a very significant portion of the population, and these folks have concerns about the eventualities that they may face as time goes on. There are a number of different elder law issues that are a source of concern at the present time, including physical and emotional elder … [Read more...] about Be Aware of Medicare Gaps
Medicaid Waiver Can Preserve Resources
The most pressing elder law concern at the present time is the matter of long-term care and the costs that go along with it. Many people assume that Medicare would pay for living assistance, but in fact, this program does not pay for custodial in-home care or a stay in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Long-Term Care Costs About 70 percent of elders will eventually need help with their activities of daily living, so this is a situation that you should take quite seriously. Genworth … [Read more...] about Medicaid Waiver Can Preserve Resources
Medicaid Planning and the Five-Year Look Back
You are probably aware of the fact that Medicaid is a government health insurance program for people with very limited financial resources. If you know you are going to qualify for Medicare when you reach the age of 65, you may wonder why Medicaid would ever be relevant to you. Many people would say that it is not fair, but Medicare does not pay for a stay in a nursing home or assisted living facility. It won’t pay for in-home custodial care either, and this is a problem, because the vast … [Read more...] about Medicaid Planning and the Five-Year Look Back
Can Medicaid Seize My Estate?
Until you understand some facts about long-term care, you may assume that Medicaid will never be relevant to you because you will qualify for Medicare. Plus, since Medicaid is a need-based program, you wouldn’t qualify anyway, because you are going to retire with some resources. This make sense on the surface, but the reason why Medicaid is relevant is because Medicare does not pay for custodial care. This is the type of assistance that you would receive in a nursing home, and some people … [Read more...] about Can Medicaid Seize My Estate?
Two Elder Law Issues Take Front and Center
As an elder law firm, we focus on matters that are of particular interest to senior citizens and their families. This is an area of specialization that has become more and more important, because the population is aging rapidly. There is a statistic that really puts this phenomenon into perspective. The Social Security Administration has been accepting over 10,000 applications daily for a number of years, and this volume is expected to persist into the foreseeable future. Why is there such a … [Read more...] about Two Elder Law Issues Take Front and Center
Alzheimer’s Can Have a Financial Impact
If you are planning ahead for your retirement years and the twilight years that will follow, it may be hard to imagine a time when you will need living assistance. This is understandable, but when you look at lifespans, if you are fortunate enough to live until you are 67, your life expectancy is at least 85 years. At that age, things can be considerably different than they were when you first started to receive Social Security benefits. In fact, the United States Census Bureau has done … [Read more...] about Alzheimer’s Can Have a Financial Impact
A Look at 2020 New York Medicaid Figures
Before we take a deep dive into the updated Medicaid parameters for the current calendar year, we should briefly explain why this program should be on your radar. When you are planning ahead for your senior years, you probably expect to qualify for Medicare coverage when you reach the age of 65. Eligibility is earned through the accumulation of retirement credits, and anyone that has worked for at least 10 years would accumulate the necessary 40 credits. This government health insurance … [Read more...] about A Look at 2020 New York Medicaid Figures
Essential Elder Law Information Regarding Social Security
Elder law attorneys help people prepare themselves for their senior years, and income is certainly going to be a huge part of the equation. Most people will not be able to live comfortably on Social Security alone, but it is an important piece to the puzzle, so you should know exactly what to expect. Before we proceed, we should point out the fact that you can register your account on the Social Security Administration website to find out the path that you are on at any given time. Work … [Read more...] about Essential Elder Law Information Regarding Social Security
Question and Answer Session With an Elder Law Attorney
We find that many of our clients ask the same questions when they come into the office for consultations. As a result, we felt that it would be a good idea to share a question and answer session that is just like the ones that we often engage in at the office. What is the role of an elder law attorney? Elder law attorneys help clients address issues that are of importance to senior citizens. Will Medicare pay for all of my health care costs when I am eligible for coverage? If you have worked … [Read more...] about Question and Answer Session With an Elder Law Attorney
