By James S. Rizzo, Esq.* “Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge.” – Winston Churchill There is very little “basic” about Medicaid. When faced with a life altering long term nursing home stay, it is important to consult a professional to review your family’s assets and income and to determine the best option, if any,…
2021 Update: “Basics” of Medicaid and Nursing Homes Read More »
Tucked into the federal spending bill that passed at the end of December 2020 are some changes aimed at simplifying Medicare enrollment and addressing coverage gaps. But Congress chose not to deal with the biggest problem.
Congress Fixes Some, But Not All, Medicare Enrollment Problems Read More »
Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets for future generations.
Using Estate Planning to Prepare for Medicaid Read More »
As the second (and maybe third) round of stimulus checks go out, it is important to know that nursing home residents are not required to turn their checks over to their nursing home.
What to Do With Your Stimulus Check if You Are in a Nursing Home Read More »
COVID vaccines are starting to roll out to nursing homes across the country, signaling the beginning of the end of the pandemic. Once your loved one has had both doses of the vaccine, you may be able to visit, but precautions are still necessary. The federal government entered into a partnership with CVS and Walgreens
Can You Visit Nursing Home Residents After They are Vaccinated? Read More »
Many employers offer critical illness insurance as part of their benefit package. What is this insurance and is it worth purchasing? Before paying for a plan, you should read the fine print and consider alternatives. While a regular health insurance plan usually offers comprehensive coverage for all types of illnesses, many plans have high deductibles
What Is Critical Illness Insurance and Is It Worth Buying? Read More »
Pets are members of the family, so it is important to consider how to provide for them in your estate plan just as you would the human family members. While we may think of pets as part of our family, the law considers them to be property. This means that you cannot leave anything in
How to Create an Estate Plan That Includes Your Pet Read More »
While it may seem great to inherit a vacation house, in actuality it may not be practical to keep the property, especially for tax reasons. There are many factors to consider when inheriting property, including taxes, any mortgage, and other owners. But if you know you do not plan to keep the property, it is
Paying Taxes When Selling an Inherited Vacation House Read More »
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating for nursing homes and their residents. Aside from the tragically disproportionate loss of life, care for surviving residents has been delayed or interrupted due to infection, facility lockdowns or other health system disruptions. In such cases, Medicare beneficiaries who qualified for skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage may be eligible
The amount of Social Security benefits a surviving spouse receives depends, in part, on when their deceased spouse began claiming benefits. However, husbands usually don’t take survivor’s benefits into account when claiming benefits, according to a recent study, meaning that many widows will needlessly experience a significant drop in income. Because women typically live longer
