Trumpcare – What Does It Mean for Long Term Care?
As is a majority of the country, I am watching with great interest the development of President Trump and the Republican party’s proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare. As an eldercare attorney focused on helping families figure out how to pay for long term care, someone asked me the
Getting a Money Settlement While on Government Benefits (Part 3)
The past 2 weeks I outlined for you the problem of what to do with a money settlement that is received by someone currently on Medicaid. A special needs trust is the solution most often recited. But what choices does Joe have? He is the 70 years old client
Getting a Money Settlement While on Government Benefits (Part 2)
Last week I outlined for you a common call I receive from attorneys who have successfully obtained money recoveries for clients who are currently receiving or may in the future need government benefits. Special needs trusts have become more widely known in recent years and recognized as “the solution”.
Getting a Money Settlement While on Government Benefits – Part 1
We get quite a few calls from attorneys who have settled cases or obtained judgments in favor of their clients to compensate them for pain and suffering resulting from slip and falls, car accidents, medical malpractice etc. The amount recovered might be small – say $10,000. In other cases
Solving Only One-Half of the Problem (Part 2)
Last week I was telling you about a very typical call in our office. Joe and Mary went to see an attorney to get their affairs in order when they learned that Mary had dementia. It was a little more than 3 years later - when he could no
Solving Only One-Half of the Problem
Joe called me because the hospital social worker suggested it. His wife, Mary had been in the hospital but was now ready to be discharged. However, Joe was just now coming to the realization that Mary can’t go home. He just is not capable of caring for her any
New Jersey Courts Decide Case Involving Estate Recovery and Elective Share (Part 2)
Last week I told you about a case that was just decided by a New Jersey court in which a family tried to avoid the impact of New Jersey’s elective share as it relates to Medicaid. (See 1/30/17 post for an explanation of the elective share and Medicaid estate
New Jersey Courts Decide Case Involving Estate Recovery and Elective Share #EstateRecovery
Estate recovery is something I am asked about frequently when it comes to Medicaid, although families rarely pose it in those terms. The question, or some variation of it, goes as follows: “Will Medicaid put a lien on my home?” What we are talking about is the State of
The Importance of a Good Medicare Supplemental Policy (Part 2)
Last week I was telling you about a call I received from Mary. Her husband, John had a heart attack which led to other medical complications. Long story short he had been in the hospital for 4 months and was now close to exhausting his Medicare coverage under Part
The Importance of Having a Medicare Supplement (Part 1)
Since a large majority of our clients are over the age of 65 or disabled and receiving Social Security, those clients also receive Medicare benefits. Medicare does not cover long term care so as elder law attorneys we don’t spend much time addressing Medicare questions and problems. However, I