Medicare open enrollment for 2020 runs from October 15 to December 7. If you are looking for advice on what type of plans would be best for you or a loved one and you want that advice to be completely unbiased (meaning that whoever gives you the advice doesn’t get paid based on what they […]
Medicaid has implemented new rules and procedures for Medicaid recipients whose spouse dies, and I fear it will catch some of the most vulnerable off guard. A Medicaid recipient is now required to pursue the spousal elective share of their deceased spouse’s estate. This will be a problem for everyone who doesn’t know about this […]
In the recent case of Hutson v. Mosier, the Kansas Court of Appeals holds a person age 65 or older who transfers assets to a pooled supplemental or special needs trust is subject to the imposition of a transfer penalty under the rules of subsection 42 U.S.C. §1396p(c)(1) if the transfer is for less than […]
A recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association states that one in nine Americans age 65 or older currently have Alzheimer’s. With the baby boomer generation aging and people living longer, that number may nearly triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s, of course, is just one cause of dementia—mini-strokes (TIAs) are also to blame—so the number of those […]
This post examines the unique planning requirements of families with children, grandchildren or other family members (such as parents) with special needs. There are numerous misconceptions in this area that can result in costly mistakes when planning for special needs beneficiaries. Understanding the pitfalls associated with special needs planning is a must for all of us […]
The benefits of a highly detailed, comprehensive power of attorney are numerous. Unfortunately, many powers of attorney are more general in nature and can actually cause more problems than they solve, especially for our senior population. This post highlights the benefits of a comprehensive, detailed power of attorney, including some of the provisions that should […]
There are currently over 25 million veterans alive in the United States. There are over 9 million surviving spouses of veterans currently living in the United States. Many of these veterans and surviving spouses are receiving long term care or will need some type of long term care in the near future, and there are […]
