If We’re on Hospice, Why Bother with Long Term Care? (Part 2)
Last week we were discussing Carla and Dennis.  Carla reached out to us, not really thinking we could help her, but because her friend kept urging her to call. Her husband, Dennis was on hospice and didn’t have much longer to live. But, in our conversation, I focused on Carla’s
Is the Pressure Really Off?
Charlie had been transferred to a nursing home when his wife Doris called. Medicare was paying for his care but she had just learned coverage would stop in another week and the private pay cost of care was $11,000 per month. I could hear the panic in her voice when
What’s a Responsible Party? (Part 2)
Last week we were discussing Jenny’s problem. She spent down Dad’s assets. The nursing home filed the Medicaid application and Dad was approved, but with a 4 month penalty. The nursing home was pursuing payment for those 4 months from Jenny.  Jenny hired us to work things out with the facility.Â
What Exactly is a Responsible Party?
Jenny took over handling her dad’s finances shortly before he entered the nursing facility. As a dutiful daughter and agent under his Power of Attorney she saw to it that he was well cared for. She visited him at the facility and paid the facility’s bill promptly until it was
Why the Nursing Home Shouldn’t File Your Application (Part 2)
A few weeks ago we were discussing Barry’s problem. He had spent down Dad’s assets towards his nursing home care and the facility said they would file the Medicaid application. He gave them the financial records and other documents they requested. They said they would handle the rest. So what
Why the Nursing Home Shouldn’t File Your Medicaid Application (Part 1)
Barry called me concerning his dad who is in a nursing facility. He had spent down Dad’s remaining funds. He paid the nursing home and set up a prepaid irrevocable burial trust as permitted by Medicaid. The facility said they would file the Medicaid application so Barry gave them all
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
It was a call I received a number of years ago but one I’ll always remember. Don called regarding his mother’s need for long term care. Her health had been slowly declining but she was still living at home. Her investments were dwindling and she needed increase care. It was
Be Nice to Me – I Pick Your Nursing Home!
For several years now, many regular readers of this blog have offered me kind words and feedback on my weekly stories and interesting posts, suggesting that I write a book. Well, I have finally taken their advice and am pleased to announce the publication of my first book, titled "Be Nice to
“But the Lady Said Medicaid is Gonna Take My House!!”
It’s an issue we deal with often, especially in our married couple crisis planning cases.  We explain to clients how Medicaid works and engineer a plan to get the sick spouse Medicaid without putting the healthy spouse in the poor house. The healthy spouse will keep the home.  This is
Are There Really Any Easy Medicaid Applications?
    Ben calls us with some basic questions about his mom’s long term care needs as she is very close to needing nursing home care. The subject turns inevitably to Medicaid as I explain the complexities of the program and how people get tripped up by it with often disastrous