When the Supreme Court overturned the portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that required states to expand Medicaid or risk losing federal dollars, it paved the way for states to choose whether they wanted to expand the program or not. At the time, many Republican state governors expressed their opposition to the expansion, while Democratic governors generally supported it. Now, in the wake of last year’s presidential election, more state governors have now begun voicing … [Read more...] about More Governors Open to Medicaid Expansion
Elder Law
Extended Family Living Continues to Rise
According to figures from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the number of multigenerational households in the country has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2012, there were about 4.3 million households in the country in which more than two generations lived. That number, equivalent to about 5.6% of the population, represents a significant increase from the 2010 levels in which about 4% of American households were multigenerational homes. The number of these households … [Read more...] about Extended Family Living Continues to Rise
Talking to Mom and Dad About Estate Planning – 2 Conversation Starters
Estate planning is, for many people, as pleasant a prospect as washing with a sandpaper sponge. While the natural hesitation when it comes to estate planning is understandable, it can often be a source of stress, especially for adult children of elderly parents. If your parents haven’t begun estate planning, or you believe they need to do more, there are several questions you may want to ask them or issues you may want to talk about to help further their efforts. When did you update your … [Read more...] about Talking to Mom and Dad About Estate Planning – 2 Conversation Starters
Are You a Caregiver or a Caretaker?
Spending time caring for elderly family members is becoming an increasingly common activity for many Americans. While providing such care is often something we do without thinking about it, it can sometimes be detrimental to our own health. In the world of elder care, it’s important to consider the difference between a caregiver and the caretaker. Though the terms are similar, a caregiver is someone who benefits from the task, while caretakers can see their own lives negatively … [Read more...] about Are You a Caregiver or a Caretaker?
How to Maintain Your Independence as a Senior Citizen
Unfortunately, as we get older our ability to remain independent is often called into question. Sometimes such questioning is justified because of the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia, and sometimes it is simply called into question because we are older. If you would like to remain independent for as long as possible, the following steps may be of use: STEP 1: Stay physically and mentally active Study after study has shown that as we get older we become much more likely to just … [Read more...] about How to Maintain Your Independence as a Senior Citizen
State Medicaid Expansion Won’t Costs States Too Much
As state legislatures enter 2013, many face the question of whether or not to expand Medicaid under the terms of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. A study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that studies health care and healthcare policy, reports that states will not have to spend a lot of money to expand Medicaid coverage to include more people. The study shows that individual state Medicaid spending would increase by only about .3% if a state … [Read more...] about State Medicaid Expansion Won’t Costs States Too Much
A Few Common Questions About Life Care Planning
Question 1: What is Life Care Planning? A life care plan addresses the needs of elderly people who develop disabilities, medical conditions, or anything else that can impact their quality of life. A life care plan is individually tailored to meet the needs of an elderly person and is designed to make their lives as happy and full as possible under the circumstances. Question 2: What is the difference between estate planning and life care planning? An estate plan mostly involves legal choices … [Read more...] about A Few Common Questions About Life Care Planning
Governors Pressured to Expand Medicaid
In early December, Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, sent a letter to state governors informing them that the federal government would not support or pay for a limited expansion of Medicaid coverage for needy individuals and families. The Obama administration wants states to expand Medicaid under the terms of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the healthcare legislation passed during the first Obama term. However, the Supreme Court’s … [Read more...] about Governors Pressured to Expand Medicaid
Questions about Grandparents Serving as Guardians
When a parent cannot perform as an adequate provider for their children any longer, and the child is in danger of being submitted to the foster care system, it is often the child’s grandparent or grandparents that step up and assume the role of a guardian for their grandchild. This is not an idle undertaking and should not be trivialized. If you are considering becoming a guardian for your grandchild, or for any child, really, then the following questions and answers may be of use to you. Do … [Read more...] about Questions about Grandparents Serving as Guardians
Medicaid Spending Increases at Unusual Rate
The past year has been one filled with heated discussions about the expenses associated with programs such as Medicaid. If you are unfamiliar with Medicaid, it is the massive government program through which millions of disabled or impoverished Americans receive their healthcare insurance coverage, if they are able to make it through the infamous restrictions placed upon who can qualify for its benefits. Regardless of how you feel about Medicaid, the results of an annual survey conducted by the … [Read more...] about Medicaid Spending Increases at Unusual Rate
