Older Americans Need to Be on Alert as House Passes Amended American Health Care Act
Many seniors and those with disabilities need Medicaid to cover home care costs, which allow them to remain in their own homes while receiving care. If the American Health Care Act becomes law, what impact will it have on seniors?…
What is a Living Will?
A living will is a document that sets forth your wishes concerning the extent of medical care you want to receive. It operates during your lifetime if you become unable to communicate your wishes at the time a healthcare decision…
Is a Pooled Income Trust Right for Me?
A pooled trust allows disabled individuals who are under age 65 to become financially eligible for public assistance, e.g. Medicaid, SSI, etc. This type of trust provides flexibility—allowing individuals to preserve their assets and monthly income necessary to pay for supplemental needs that are not covered by public assistance.
There are various types of pooled trusts. Many people are unaware of the pooled income trust which can be established by anyone (including seniors) to protect their monthly income and still access Medicaid.
Do I Need a MOLST Form? Part 2
In Do I Need a MOLST Form? Part 1, we discussed who might need a MOLST form and in which situations. Below we’ll discuss how a MOLST form is executed.
There are certain medical requirements that need to be met in order for a MOLST to be in place for the patient with developmental disabilities.
Do I Need a MOLST Form? Part 1
A MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is a medical order form that tells healthcare providers a patient’s medical orders for life-sustaining treatment. The form includes medical orders and patient preferences regarding resuscitation instructions when the patient has no…
Protect Your Special Needs Child: Be Informed & Prepared
Parents of children with special needs will inevitably face the following question: Who is going to make health care and financial decisions for my child when I am unable to do so?
Planning and preparing the appropriate documentation for children with special needs will ensure protection for your loved ones.
Joint Bank Accounts Offer No Protection From Medicaid
Many times when I meet with clients to discuss Medicaid, their children come along with them. One of the most frequent questions I get asked by children is, “Well, mom put me on her checking account, so half of that is protected because it’s a joint account, right?”
What is the Best Way to Protect an Inheritance?
We often see clients with concerns about loved ones who receive government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Medicaid. Since SSI and Medicaid have very strict rules as to how much money and how much income beneficiaries can have in their name, clients often want to be sure that their gift does not affect SSI and/or Medicaid benefits. It’s very important in this type of situation to implement proper planning that protects their loved one’s important benefits.
What Does it Take to be a Guardian?
There are three types of guardianship proceedings in New York State:
- Article 17 – Guardianship of minors.
- Article 17A – Guardianship of adult individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Article 81 – A mental hygiene proceeding for adults who had capacity at one point but have lost a certain level of capacity.