Category archives: Florida First Coast
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1 month ago
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Tucked in 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.
Currently, Medicare enrollment begins three months before th... [read more]
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1 month ago
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Long-term care is the care you need if you can’t perform daily activities on your own for an extended period of time. There are a number of different ways that long-term care can be provided.
Most long-term care involves assisting with basic personal needs rather than providing medical care. You ar... [read more]
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2 months ago
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Medicaid planning can be a difficult and confusing process. The following are some common mistakes people make when planning to apply for Medicaid.
Thinking it's too late to plan. It's almost never too late to take planning steps, even after a senior has moved to a nursing home.
Giving... [read more]
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2 months ago
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All long-term care costs rose sharply in 2020, but assisted living facility costs increased the most, according to Genworth’s latest annual Cost of Care Survey. The across-the-board rises were due in part to increased costs brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
In the past year, assisted living... [read more]
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2 months ago
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One of the lessons of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of taking care of ourselves, getting regular checkups with medical professionals, and paying attention to any changes or concerns we have about our health.
All of us are wise to also take this practical approach to the health o... [read more]
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3 months ago
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We are living in a time of change and ongoing uncertainty. During the last month we experienced a change in U.S. government leadership from the Trump to the Biden Administration, and with this change comes the potential for new policies that may potentially affect many aspects of our lives, includin... [read more]
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3 months 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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4 months ago
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Do you need an attorney for even "simple" Medicaid planning? This depends on your situation, but in most cases, the prudent answer would be "yes."
The social worker at your mother's nursing home assigned to assist in preparing a Medicaid application for your mother knows a lot about the progr... [read more]
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4 months ago
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As Medicare premiums rise, a Medicare Advantage plan can seem like an attractive option. But if you are considering switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, you need to know what to look for.
Medicare Advantage plans are run by private insurers, unlike Original Medicare,... [read more]
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4 months ago
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If you are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you may want to consider withdrawing money from your retirement account while you still can. The special exemption allowing early withdrawals without a penalty ends soon.
Passed... [read more]
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5 months ago
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Medicare premiums are set to rise a modest amount next year, but still cut into any Social Security gains. The basic monthly premium will increase $3.90, from $144.60 a month to $148.50.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the premium and other Medicare cost increas... [read more]
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5 months ago
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In some circumstances, immediate annuities can be ideal Medicaid planning tools for spouses of nursing home residents. Careful planning is needed to make sure an annuity will work for you or your spouse.
An immediate annuity, in its simplest form, is a contract with an insurance company under... [read more]
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