Medicaid Updates Life Expectancy Table – So What?
The Department of Health, overseer of the Medicaid program in New York, recently issued GIS 16 MA/010 updating the actuarial life expectancy table.
“So what,” you say?
Am I Entitled to Supplemental Security Income?
The Supplemental Security Income program, known as SSI, is a federally administered program.
Unlike Medicare or Medicaid, SSI is a federal welfare program that pays monthly cash benefits to individuals who fall within 1 of 3 categories:
Why You Should NOT HIRE the Nursing Home Attorney to File a Medicaid Application
For most seniors, obtaining Medicaid to pay for nursing home care is a must. Very few people can afford to pay privately for extended long-term care, which is not covered by Medicare.
The nursing home may provide you with a list of attorneys to assist with the filing of a Medicaid application. It is suggested that you obtain three attorney references in writing.
A key question for the family to ask is: Do any of the attorneys on the list currently represent the nursing home?
The Truth About Nursing Homes: Reasons to Consider
The truth is, nursing homes are full of people who did not want to be there and whose families thought they never would.
As an elder law attorney, I often hear: “My mother will never end up in a nursing home,” or “I would never put my dad in a nursing home.”
It is all nice in theory. No one (myself included) wants to see their parents in a nursing home but, in most cases, the reasoning behind the decision is either financially driven or care-driven.
The Special Needs Trust Act and Self-Created Trusts
On Wednesday, September 9, The Special Needs Trust Act was passed! The passage of this legislation establishes liberties for persons with disabilities which had been previously denied to them.
Prior to passing the Act, only a parent, grandparent, legal guardian of the disabled individual, or a court could establish a special needs trust on behalf of the disabled individual.
Why You Need Legal Advice for Elder Law and Estate Planning
Everyone has their niche.
Financial advisors have a certain field of expertise, and most are very good at what they do. However, when it comes to elder law, Medicaid and estate planning, there is no substitute for sound legal advice.
Case study:
A retiree originally made an appointment with a law firm specializing in estate planning and elder law – but, a family friend was a financial advisor. He decided to work with his friend and canceled his appointment with the law firm.
The Problem With a Life Estate
A “life estate” is an ownership interest that a person retains in real property while transferring a remainder interest to one or more individuals.
Life estates are sometimes used as a planning technique by individuals who wish to safeguard their residence or other real estate.
Protected: Planning for Your Child with Special Needs
There is no question that you would do anything to protect your child. You think about his future day and night. You want to make sure that you have a proper plan in place to provide for him when you…
Key Differences Between Medicare and Medicaid
Many people often get confused what the two programs entail because their names are so similar. Although both programs provide health coverage, the two are very different. Medicare is a federal program that is offered to everyone 65 and over…
NYSBA Elder Law Section stymies illegal Medicaid practices
The Medicaid Committee of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association recently demanded that the New York City Medicaid Program stop the illegal practice of failing to budget a Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance (CSMIA) when…