An Overview of Living Wills
If you reach a time when you cannot communicate with your doctors or make decisions for yourself, a living will outlines your medical treatment preferences and end-of-life care. Everyone should have an advance directive, as end-of-life situations can happen at any age due to an accident or illness. Living Will This legal document identifies medical […]
An Elder Law Attorney’s Guide to Medicaid Planning
Low-income families and individuals are covered by the Medicaid program in the United States. However, because of the steep costs associated with long-term care, Medicaid planning is a growing trend for individuals with higher net worth as an alternative to spending down assets to qualify for benefits. Individuals can plan to meet eligibility requirements by […]
Americans Can’t Afford Doctor Visits
It would be difficult to get treatment if you were ill and had to determine whether you could afford it. Unfortunately, for many Americans, seeking medical care hinges on affordability rather than medical necessity. About half of US adults have gone without or delayed medical care in the last year due to a lack of affordability. Even […]
What Does End-of-Life Planning Entail?
The topic of end-of-life planning is generally difficult for people. We don’t like to think about it or discuss it, but without planning, we will have fewer options, and things may not go as expected. You may wish to pass away in the comfort of your home, but without making proper arrangements in advance, you […]
Redetermination of Medicaid Benefits
In Medicaid redetermination, a beneficiary’s eligibility for continued coverage is reviewed by the Medicaid agency. Typically, this process occurs annually. However, during the pandemic, the federal government enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), requiring continuous Medicaid enrollment without redetermination until the public health emergency (PHE) is legally declared over May 11, 2023. Early January of […]
Your Loved Ones Will Appreciate a Proper End-of-Life Plan
The topic of death is uncomfortable for most of us and we avoid it as much as possible. Since we don’t want to talk about it, many of us don’t make plans for what we want to happen before or after we pass away. More than half of Americans think that end-of-life planning, or estate […]
Getting to Know Medicaid
Millions of Americans receive comprehensive health coverage and financial assistance through Medicaid, a federal and state public health insurance program. The program helps low-income families, individuals, and people with disabilities receive adequate health care and provides nursing home or community long-term care services. As of August 2022, more than 90.5 million individuals were part of the Medicaid […]
Healthcare Directives and Their Importance
Disease, injury, or illness can cause some people to lose the ability to communicate their wants and needs. When this happens, they need someone they trust to advocate for them. You can prepare the proper legal documents in advance. Losing the Ability to Communicate Unfortunately, there are many ways people can lose their ability to […]
Will Versus No Will
It’s uncomfortable to think about death, especially our own. Add to that the question of what will happen to our assets after we die and it’s no wonder, so few people have created wills. According to a 2021 Gallup poll, only 46% of US adults have a will. This is a slight increase from 2016 […]
A Guide to Medicaid Gifting Penalties
In the US and around the world, the aging population is growing. People are living longer than previous generations, which means they will require more long-term care. It’s estimated that seven out of ten Americans will need long-term care during their lives. Long-term care can include care in your home, an assisted living facility, or […]