Medicaid Applicants Cannot Sue in Federal Court Over Whether They Can Deduct Pre-Eligibility Expenses from Income
A U.S. appeals court rules that a group of Medicaid applicants do not have a private right of action to sue in federal court over whether they can deduct their pre-eligibility nursing home expenses from their income. Nasello v. Eagleson (7th Cir., No. 19-3215, Oct. 6,...
A Modest Social Security Increase for 2021
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.3 percent increase in benefits in 2021, an increase even smaller than last year’s. Cost-of-living increases are tied to the consumer price index, and a modest upturn in inflation rates and gas prices means Social...
How to Fix a Required Minimum Distribution Mistake
The rules around required minimum distributions from retirement accounts are confusing, and it’s easy to slip up. Fortunately, if you do make a mistake, there are steps you can take to fix the error and possibly avoid a stiff penalty. If you have a tax-deferred...
Can the Nursing Home Refuse to Allow Me to Talk to My Grandmother?
While the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed access to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, it should not prevent any contact. Legally, your grandmother should have the right to determine who she contacts and communicates with. If she is not...
Accurate Head Count Vital to Disability Programs More Likely After Court Rules Census Cannot be Ended Prematurely
The U.S. Census, conducted once every 10 years, determines how more than $675 billion in federal resources is allocated annually, including many programs like Medicaid, special education funds, housing vouchers, and food and employment assistance vital to people with...
The Ins and Outs of Guardianship and Conservatorship
Every adult is assumed to be capable of making his or her own decisions unless a court determines otherwise. If an adult becomes incapable of making responsible decisions, the court will appoint a substitute decision maker, usually called a "guardian," but called a...
How Do I Protect My Right to Continue Living in My Son and Daughter-in-Law’s House if Something Were to Happen to My Son?
Good question. Probably the best solution would be for you to sign a use and occupancy agreement with your son and daughter-in-law, giving you the right to live in the house for as long as one or both of them owns it. The agreement could also spell out any obligations...
Medicare Beneficiaries May Be Eligible for an Extra 100 days of Skilled Nursing Coverage Due to Pandemic
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...
Medicare May Not Cover the Coronavirus Vaccine After All
While Medicare would cover a coronavirus vaccine approved through normal channels, if the Food and Drug Administration approves the vaccine through an emergency use authorization (EUA), Medicare will not cover it unless the government acts. As we previously reported,...
Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15: Is It Time to Change Plans?
Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, during which you can freely enroll in or switch plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Now is the time to start shopping around to see whether your current choices are still the best ones for you. During this period you may...
Can a Nursing Home Require Us to Obtain Guardianship of Our Mother?
No, there is no requirement that anyone take on the role of guardian. However, with no one available to make decisions for your mother, the nursing home may decide it has to seek guardianship on its own, in which case the court would appoint an independent person with...
Will Electronic Wills Be the New Normal?
More and more transactions are done digitally, but estate planning has lagged behind technology. That may be changing, though. Even before the coronavirus pandemic made social distancing necessary, electronic wills were gaining legitimacy. An electronic will (or...
Nursing Home Residents Face Even Greater Barriers to Voting Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has forced nursing homes to place a number of restrictions on their residents. These constraints are having the unintended consequence of making it more difficult for nursing home residents to vote. Hundreds of thousands of nursing home and...
My Mother Is Moving to California and Wants to Put Her New Jersey House in a Trust. Does She Need a New Jersey Attorney? SHARE THIS:
She actually may need to involve lawyers in both states. She will need an attorney in New Jersey to make sure the real estate transfer is appropriate and there are no tax issues or other traps for the unwary. She will also need an attorney in California to make sure...
Can I Transfer My Interest in a House My Parents Own a Life Estate in Without Affecting Their Medicaid?
You can freely transfer your interest in your parents’ house to your brother without it affecting your parents’ potential eligibility for Medicaid. The five-year look-back period only applies to transfers by your parents, not by you. Transferring your interest in the...