People with disabilities are frequently denied consideration for heart, kidney, liver and other organ transplants, according to the primary agency that oversees federal disability rights policy. “Organ transplants save lives. But for far too long, people with...

After small or no increases the past couple of years, Medicare’s Part B premium will rise in 2020. The basic monthly premium will increase $9.10, from $135.50 a month to $144.60. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the premium increase on...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2020 income as a result of buying long-term care insurance. Premiums for "qualified" long-term care insurance policies (see explanation below) are tax deductible to the extent...

This is something of a gray area. Medicaid has income rules and generally any money you receive directly is considered income and may put you over the income limits in your state. However, payments made on your behalf generally are not considered to be income for...

Written By: Andy Jones To the relief of disability rights advocates nationwide, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined, without comment, to hear an appeal of a landmark ruling that pizza giant Domino’s must make its website and app accessible to people with disabilities....

The answer is probably yes. The state Medicaid agency would likely consider the payments to repair the condominium to be a transfer of assets causing a period of ineligibility for Medicaid. While your mother lived in the condo, you could have charged her fair market...

When it comes to long-term care costs, the charges for home care are now rising faster than those for nursing home care, according to Genworth's 2019 Cost of Care survey. In the past year, the median annual cost for home health aides rose 4.55 percent to $52,624,...

Written By: Lelia Wardell Mander The end of the year is approaching and the holidays will soon be in full swing, a time when many people are getting ready to make gifts to their family members. Not only is this a great way to show love and support to relatives, but it...

Written By: Attorney Ryan D. Foley Estate planning can be confusing, convoluted, and overwhelming. Confronting mortality is often uncomfortable, and many people put it off for far too long. This can end up causing a multitude of problems, but not for the person who...

The answer depends on state law, so you’ll have to consult with an elder law attorney in your state. While the federal government requires all state Medicaid programs to seek recovery of their expenses from the estates of deceased beneficiaries – usually from their...

By: Patrick Hicks Nearly half of baby boomers lack any sort of estate plan, despite the fact that most people agree it’s very important to have one. And among Americans aged 72 and older, nearly one in five still have no documents that provide directions regarding...

Written By: Rick Pendykoski When it comes to retirement planning, many Americans find themselves underprepared. A majority of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and Generation X’ers (born between 1965 and 1978) often end up without retirement savings or don’t...

There are lots of misconceptions about estate planning, and any one of them can result in costly mistakes. Understanding who needs an estate plan and what it should cover is key to creating a plan that is right for you. A properly crafted estate plan allows you, while...

Yes, an annuity is like any other investment asset and must be liquidated and spent down before Medicaid will pick up the cost of your mother’s care. It may feel like the nursing home is “taking” the annuity, since it will likely be spent paying for your grandmother’s...

The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.6 percent increase in benefits in 2020, nearly half of last year's change. The small rise has advocates questioning whether the government is using the proper method to calculate the cost of living for older...