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
Elder Law
Five Things You Need to Know About Medicaid Planning
You are probably aware of the fact that Medicaid is a jointly administered federal/state government health insurance program for low income individuals and families. As a person that is interested in elder law and estate planning assistance from a legal perspective, you may wonder why Medicaid should be of interest to you at all. The answer is that Medicaid will pay for long-term care. About 35% of senior citizens will eventually reside in nursing homes, and Medicare will not pay for the … [Read more...] about Five Things You Need to Know About Medicaid Planning
A Look at Two Pressing Elder Law Matters
Nefarious individuals who are looking for easy marks typically target people who they perceive to be vulnerable. For this reason, senior citizens are often in the cross hairs of scam artists of every ilk, and this is something that is a big problem within the elder law community. Elder financial abuse results in billions of dollars in losses each year, and a very significant of percentage of seniors are victimized. When people who you do not know are asking you to part with your money, a … [Read more...] about A Look at Two Pressing Elder Law Matters
Medicare Coverage Gap Can Decimate Your Legacy
When you pay FICA or self-employment taxes, it may seem like you are just pouring money down a black hole that will never come back around to provide any benefits for you. In fact, this is really not the case. You earn retirement credits when you pay these taxes, and anyone that works full-time or consistently on a part-time basis will receive the maximum four credits per year. When you have at least 40 credits to your name, you will qualify for Medicare and Social Security when you are a … [Read more...] about Medicare Coverage Gap Can Decimate Your Legacy
Veterans Pension Has New Eligibility Parameters
As elder law attorneys, we educate our neighbors about important matters that they may face when they attain senior citizen status. It is very important to have a thorough understanding of benefits that may be available to you, and this is especially important for veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Most veterans are aware of the fact that individuals that served for at least 20 years become eligible for a retirement pension. The amount that you would receive if you are a service … [Read more...] about Veterans Pension Has New Eligibility Parameters
Prepare for Out of Pocket Medicare Costs
When you are working and paying FICA or self-employment taxes, it can seem like the money is going into a black hole, but in fact, you get something for your contributions. You earn one retirement credit for every $1360 that you pay taxes on in 2019. The maximum annual accrual is four credits. As you can see, this is a modest requirement, and we should point out the fact that this exact figure is adjusted annually to account for inflation. After you have at least 40 credits, you will qualify … [Read more...] about Prepare for Out of Pocket Medicare Costs
How Do I Become My Mother’s Guardian?
If you find yourself worrying about your mother’s ability to safely care for herself or about her ability to handle her affairs, it may be time to consider guardianship. Like many adult children, you may be resistant to the idea of petitioning to become your mother’s Guardian because it feels as though you are taking away her independence. Keep in mind, however, that failing to pursue guardianship could place your mother at increased risk for serious injury or victimization by predators who prey … [Read more...] about How Do I Become My Mother’s Guardian?
10 Things You May Not Know about Alzheimer’s Disease
There are many aspects of growing old that can be a bit scary; however, for most seniors, nothing is more frightening than the thought of developing Alzheimer’s disease. You undoubtedly have some idea what Alzheimer’s is and how it affects those who have it; however, the Rochester elder law attorneys at the Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C. tell you 10 things you may not already know about Alzheimer’s disease. What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America … [Read more...] about 10 Things You May Not Know about Alzheimer’s Disease
A Special Needs Trust Can Preserve Medicaid Eligibility
We always emphasize the fact that personalized attention is key when you are planning your estate. There is no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all estate planning strategy. There are many tools in the estate planning toolkit as it were, so you should understand your options so that you can make fully informed decisions. With this in mind, we will look at special needs planning in this post. Need-Based Benefits Many people with disabilities are going to require costly medical care throughout their … [Read more...] about A Special Needs Trust Can Preserve Medicaid Eligibility
Why Is Medicaid Relevant If I Have Medicare?
If you work and pay FICA or self-employment taxes for a minimum of ten years, you will qualify for Medicare when you reach the age of 65 under current laws. Medicare is also available to the spouses of people that meet this requirement. We include the caveat “under current laws” because some legislators consistently talk about raising the age of eligibility. This is a matter that you should stay abreast of when you are looking ahead toward your senior years. Medicare provides a solid health … [Read more...] about Why Is Medicaid Relevant If I Have Medicare?
