Medicaid's Power to Recoup Benefits Paid: Estate Recovery and Liens
Under Medicaid law, following the death of the Medicaid recipient a state must attempt to recover from his or her estate whatever benefits it paid for the recipient’s care.
Entries by Greg Baroni
What to Do If You Are Appointed Guardian of an Older Adult
Being appointed guardian of a loved one is a serious responsibility. As guardian, you are in charge of your loved one’s well-being and you have a duty to act in his or her best interest.
Don't Let Medicare Open Enrollment Go By Without Reassessing Your Options
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, during which you can freely enroll in or switch plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Don’t let this period slip by without shopping around to see whether your current choices are the best ones for you.
The 2020 Social Security Increase Will Be Smaller than 2019's
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.6 percent increase in benefits in 2020, nearly half of last year’s change. The small rise has advocates questioning whether the government is using the proper method to calculate increases.
Understanding the Differences Between a Will and a Trust
Everyone has heard the terms “will” and “trust,” but not everyone knows the differences between the two.
Estate Planning When You Have a Stepfamily
Ideally, when a second marriage joins two families together, it should be a joyous occasion that creates one bigger family unit. Unfortunately, it too often also creates inheritance fights between stepparents and children.
Avoid Disagreements Between Your Power of Attorney Holder and Health Care Proxy
A durable power of attorney and a health care proxy are two very important estate planning documents. Because the individuals chosen will have to coordinate your care, it is important to pick two people who will get along.
What Is Asset Protection Planning?
Asset protection planning is about protecting your assets from creditors — and it is not just for the super-wealthy.
Medicaid's Asset Transfer Rules
In order to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot have transferred assets recently. Congress does not want you to move into a nursing home on Monday, give all your money to your children (or whomever) on Tuesday, and qualify for Medicaid on Wednesday.
New Rule May Make It Harder for Medicare Beneficiaries to Receive Home Care
It may become harder for Medicare beneficiaries to find home health care due to a new rule. Although the rule changes the way home health care providers are reimbursed, it could affect patient care as well.