Category Archives: General
Selecting a Trustee
Making the choice to create a trust can be a great way to provide for your loved ones long after you pass on. One important component in ensuring that these assets last long enough to provide financial support to the people and causes you care about is the identity of the person you’ve selected… Read More »
2017 Cost of Living Adjustment for Social Security Recipients Announced
Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces how much it plans to increase the amount of monthly Social Security retirement benefits to keep the amount of benefits on pace with nationwide increases to costs of living. For 25% of all Social Security recipients who are 65 or older, the monthly benefit checks constitute… Read More »
New Rule Prevents Nursing Home Patients and Residents from Being Forced into Arbitration
Under a new rule established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), nursing homes and assisted living facilities which receive federal support will no longer be able to require that patients or residents go to arbitration when they have a legal claim against a facility. These injured or otherwise-wronged individuals will now… Read More »
Failure to Improve Still Being Used as Reason for Denying Coverage
After a serious injury, such as a fall or stroke, many elderly Medicare recipients need skilled nursing or rehabilitation for a period of time to regain strength and mobility. Medicare covers short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, but for years, coverage for these services was denied where a beneficiary failed to show improvement. Despite… Read More »
Study Reveals Further Increases in the Cost of Long-Term Care
Caring for yourself, your spouse, or your parent as they age can be a pricey endeavor. While you want to ensure the best possible care and highest levels of comfort, it can be difficult to find care that you can trust to adequately meet your loved one’s needs while remaining affordable. According to the… Read More »
New Study Offers Evidence that Children Don’t Understand Parents’ End-Of-Life Needs
If you’re an adult child of aging parents, you might be avoiding having conversations with them about difficult topics such as hospice care, or how they want their money to be handled when they are incapacitated by senility or injury. If this is the case, you’re certainly not alone. A survey conducted by Fidelity… Read More »
Medicaid Planning: Using Caregiver Contracts
Millions of Americans are currently caring for an elderly family member or friend at home, without receiving regular compensation. Depending on the circumstances, however, it may actually be bene-ficial for both parties to enter into a care contract wherein the caregiver accepts payment for the care they are providing their loved one and also… Read More »
Special Needs Individuals Have New Savings Option in A.B.L.E. Accounts
As of June 30, individuals with special needs will have a new option for saving money while remaining eligible for federal benefits such as Social Security Income and Medicare. Qualifying individuals will be able to open accounts designed according to the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, known as A.B.L.E. accounts. Whether an A.B.L.E…. Read More »