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4 years ago
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In December 2018, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had a nasty surprise for Laura Marshall (not her real name), a 74-year-old woman just scraping by while living in senior citizen housing in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood: The agency demanded that she repay more than $10,000 in benefits... [read more]
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4 years ago
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Medicare 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 ... [read more]
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4 years ago
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For many Medicaid applicants, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are one of their biggest assets. If you do not plan properly, IRAs can count as an available asset and affect Medicaid eligibility.
Medicaid applicants can have only a small amount of assets in order to be eligible to receive... [read more]
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4 years ago
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Netflix’s popular new movie, I Care a Lot, may be far-fetched in a lot of ways, but it does highlight some real weaknesses in the guardianship system that make it possible for an unscrupulous guardian to take control of an elderly person’s life and bleed their resources dry. Fortunately, steps can b... [read more]
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4 years ago
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Spring is definitely here, and in addition to enjoying the warmer weather, sunshine, and longer days, many of us are also Spring cleaning. Deep cleaning our homes, checking our refrigerators and pantries for anything out of date, clearing out clothing that doesn't fit anymore, weeding and removing y... [read more]
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4 years ago
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Buying long-term care insurance is one way to protect against the high cost of long-term care. However, this type of insurance may not be for everyone, so consider all your options.
Long-term care – care in a nursing home or at home -- may be paid for in four main ways:
Out-of-pocket. If y... [read more]
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5 years ago
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We're often asked if there are special considerations for creating Estate Plans for retirees. Our answer is that there are times in our lives that are considered significant events, when we are wise to create or revisit our Estate Plans, and retiring is definitely one of these times.
Whether you ... [read more]
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5 years ago
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In mid-February, a cluster of residents at the Seattle-area nursing home, Life Care Center of Kirkland, came down with a respiratory illness and fever. On February 28, a 73-year-old female resident tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Over the next month, the coronavirus swept throu... [read more]
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5 years ago
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Being appointed guardian of a loved one is a serious responsibility. As guardian, you are in charge of your loved one's well-being and you have a duty to act in his or her best interest.
If an adult becomes mentally incapacitated and is incapable of making responsible decisions, the court will ap... [read more]
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6 years ago
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A new report finds that almost no retirees are making financially optimal decisions about when to take Social Security and are losing out on more than $100,000 per household in the process. The average Social Security recipient would receive 9 percent more income in retirement if they made the finan... [read more]
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6 years ago
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One question we're often asked by clients is if we can help them find resources to help cover the high costs that can often be associated with aging; such as at-home care or a skilled nursing facility. Our answer is that we are happy to help clients address these concerns by evaluating benefits such... [read more]
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6 years ago
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Older Americans with a life insurance policy that they no longer need have the option to sell the policy to investors. These transactions, called "life settlements," can bring in needed cash, but are they a good idea?
If your children are grown and your mortgage paid off, you may decide that ther... [read more]
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