Category archives: Seniors
 
                    
                 
                        
            
                  
                
                    
                                            
                        
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            Older adults have access to hundreds of federal and state benefits programs. Many retirees meet the requirements for these aids, yet do not know they are eligible and miss opportunities to receive assistance. Others can feel overwhelmed by complex application processes.
BenefitsCheckUp, the N... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            Try your hand at this estate planning pop quiz to see if your knowledge of estate planning makes the grade and if it is time for us to schedule a meeting.
Question #1: True or false? You must name the same person to make both your financial and medical decisions on your behalf.
Answer: False. ... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            Medigap premiums for plans from insurance companies offering the same benefits vary widely, so it pays to be a smart shopper.
Federal law requires that each insurance company offers the same benefits for each of the Medigap plans lettered A through M, but each company sets its own premium rat... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            If you need a lot of cash on hand upon retirement, Social Security offers a lump-sum payment option that’s worth six months of benefits. However, it comes at a cost. It is important to understand the details before agreeing to the payment.
 
If you have waited beyond your full retirement ... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            While Medicaid helps pay for nursing home care, being admitted to a nursing home as a Medicaid recipient is not always easy. There are several ways to navigate the process, depending on your situation.
With the median cost of a nursing home room being more than $250 a day, most families need ... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            Did you know you could be responsible for your parents' unpaid bills? More than half of all states currently have laws making adult children financially responsible for their parents, including their long-term care costs. However, these laws are rarely enforced.
Filial responsibility laws obligat... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            In an alarming number of instances, private Medicare Advantage plans are denying coverage for medical services that would be covered under original Medicare, according to a federal investigation.  These denials are likely preventing or delaying medically necessary care for tens of thousands of Medic... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                3 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            In addition to being a time for enjoying spring weather and activities, May is a month when many of us focus on being prepared for upcoming seasons. Here in Florida, we're reminded that hurricane season is approaching and ways we can be ready for it. May is also National Elder Law Awareness Month.
... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                4 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            The Biden administration has announced far-reaching nursing home reforms, targeting staffing and accountability at facilities with deficient care. Advocates are calling the proposals, which include the first-ever federal minimum staffing levels, the most significant reforms in decades.
Nursin... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                4 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            When a married couple applies for Medicaid, the Medicaid agency must analyze the couple’s income and assets as of a particular date to determine eligibility. The date that the agency chooses for this analysis is called the “snapshot” date and it can have a major impact on a couple’s financial future... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                4 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            In addition to the wonderful religous holidays of Easter and Passover that we are celebrating with our loved ones, this time of year also reminds us of the old saying about it is impossible to be sure of anything but death and taxes. This bit of dark humor is also quite true, and we can all benefit ... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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                                4 years ago  
                            
 
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                                                            A federal court has ruled that hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries who were switched from inpatient to observation status can appeal the decision, making it easier for them to receive coverage for subsequent nursing home care. The ruling appears to bring to an end more than a decade of litigation on... [read more]                                                            
 
                            
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