John and Nancy have two children, Michael and Maria. Maria is disabled and receives a number of public benefits to support her care needs. John and Nancy intend to leave their entire estate to Michael. Their logic is that Maria will continue to receive public benefits since she will have no additional assets in her […]
read moreThe tightening of public benefits eligibility rules favor those with time to plan. If you have a family asset that is important to protect, whether it be a family business, farm, or accumulated savings, planning early can ensure those assets can be passed to the next generation.
read moreQualifying for Medicare hardly means free health care — there are still premiums and deductibles. However, people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (called “dual eligibility”) receive help paying their out-of-pocket costs. Medicare is a federal program available to anyone 65 or older. It consists of four major parts, each of which have premiums […]
read moreShould you involve an attorney for even “simple” Medicaid planning or a “simple” Medicaid application? This depends on your situation, but it has been our experience that in most cases, the prudent answer would be “yes.” The Medicaid program began as the government health care program for individuals who were of minimal means and needed […]
read moreCan I deduct my independent living apartment rent as a medical expense on my application for VA pension? This is a common question we receive and the answer depends on the reason for residing in independent living. Using ordinary rent as a deductible medical expense on an application for VA pension benefits had been an abusive […]
read moreMedicare prescription drug (Part D) plans can have a coverage gap—called the “donut hole”–which limits how much Medicare will pay for your drugs until you pay a certain amount out of pocket. Although the gap has gotten much smaller since Medicare Part D was introduced in 2006, there still may be a difference in what you […]
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