Medicaid Spend Down: A Means to Eligibility
Since the 1960s, Medicaid has offered health coverage for low-income individuals across the U.S. For millions of seniors, it provides financial assistance to help cover long-term care costs. Today, this federal-state program extends to other eligible groups with...
What To Know Before Beginning Special Needs Planning
Every parent wants to make sure their children are protected and cared for in the future. Children with disabilities face additional challenges in ensuring they have everything they need to have a safe and happy life. Consider protecting your child’s government...
Effective Retirement Planning Considers Costs of Long-Term Care
It can be easy to underestimate the amount of money we will need for health care and long-term care after we retire. Not knowing exactly what care we will need and with the costs of all types of care rising, it is nearly impossible to know exactly how much to save and...
Long-Term Care Medicaid for a Single Individual in a Kansas Nursing Home: Eligibility Requirements
There are state-imposed limits on what an individual can have/own to become eligible to receive Medicaid benefits to pay for long-term care in a skilled nursing facility. Here are the details: Resource (or Asset) Limit: $2000 The maximum amount of assets/resources an...
Protecting Your Parents’ Assets From Nursing Home Costs
The aging U.S. population means that more people will likely need nursing home care in the coming decades. Meanwhile, the cost of nursing home care is increasing — and expected to keep increasing. With the exorbitant cost of nursing home care, many families worry...
What Is a Life Estate?
The phrase “life estate” is sometimes mentioned when discussing estate and Medicaid planning, but what does it mean? A life estate is a form of joint ownership that allows one person to remain in a house until their death when it passes to the other owner. Elder law...
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rule Protecting Individuals & Families from Medical Debt
Good news for individuals and families experiencing medical debit - including and especially family caregivers! According to the recent CFPB rule, medical debt will no longer appear on credit reports at all, meaning individuals & caregivers will not see any...
New Law Supports Home Care & Caregivers for Military Veterans
On January 2, 2025, President Biden signed into law the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. The legislation represents a significant step forward in supporting the needs of veterans, their families, and their...
Financial & Healthcare Planning for Children With Disabilities: A Guide For Parents & Caregivers
All parents worry about their children's future, but when your child has an intellectual or developmental disability or a special healthcare need, those concerns often become more complex. You might find yourself asking: What kind of life will my child want to lead,...
Support for Family Caregiving Gains Momentum
Caregiving has become an essential public health issue as the U.S. population ages and chronic disease prevalence increases. Family caregivers provide indispensable support that allows individuals to remain in their homes and communities, but their contributions often...
Paying For Long-Term Care: Know the Options, the Challenges, and What You Can Do
Financing long-term care (LTC) in the United States is a complex issue that involves multiple sources of funding, including public programs, private insurance, and out-of-pocket expenditures. As the U.S. faces an aging population, the financial burden of LTC is...
Year-End Estate Planning: A Perfect Time to Review or Begin
Both the start of a new year as well as year-end are a great times to review and update your estate plan. As tax laws, personal circumstances, and financial goals change, it's important to ensure your estate planning strategy remains aligned with your current...
Elder Care Numbers for 2025: Medicaid, Long-Term Care, VA Benefits, & Gift and Estate Taxes
Please find here an at-a-glance list of commonly used elder law-related figures for the year 2025, all gathered in one place so that you can bookmark for quick reference over the coming months. Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Figures for 2025 Community Spouse Resource...
Deposit Up to $19,000 to Your ABLE Account in 2025
Ten years ago, Congress passed the Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014, which provided people with disabilities with the opportunity to save money, tax-free, in something called an ABLE account. Benefits of an ABLE Account These...
Avoiding 4 Main Obstacles to Digital-Era Estate Planning
Identifying the digital property you own and managing it is more necessary than ever. From smart home devices to online investments and bank accounts, we’ve gone way beyond using the internet to email family and social media to connect with friends. In a recent...