How to Plan Your Funeral
Thinking about your funeral may not be fun, but planning ahead is helpful. It both lets your family know your wishes and assists them during a stressful time.
NAELA Praises House Passage of Bill to Ensure Access to Home Care
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) JUNE 19, 2019 The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) praises House passage of H.R. 3253, the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019, introduced by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brett...
Senior’s Transfer to Pooled Trust Triggers Medicaid Penalty Period
A U.S. court of appeals rules that a transfer to a special needs pooled trust by a Medicaid recipient who is age 65 or older triggers a Medicaid penalty period. Richardson v. Hamilton (1st Cir., No. 18-1223, June 20, 2019). Eighty-seven-year-old Yvonne Richardson...
Report: Recent Declines in Medicaid Coverage Linked to Paperwork Obstacles
A report finds that 1.6 million fewer people received Medicaid and CHIP in 2018, primarily due to paperwork hurdles confronted during the re-eligibility process.
Executor of Estate Can Deduct Care Expenses from Sale of House
A New Jersey appeals court holds that an executor has submitted sufficient evidence of expenses incurred in taking care of his mother, brother, and his brother's house to deduct those expenses from the sale of the house. In the Matter of the Estate of Biber (N.J....
Medicare Now Covers Conversations About End-of-Life Care
Medicare has made discussions with health care providers about end-of-life options a covered benefit.
A Final Retirement Account Distribution Must Still Be Made After Death
Federal law requires that beginning on April 1 of the year after you reach age 70 1/2, you must begin withdrawing a minimum amount
from your non-Roth individual retirement account (IRA) or 401(k) accounts. But what if you die after age 70 1/2 and before all the account funds have been distributed?
Medicaid Home Care
Traditionally, Medicaid has paid for long-term care in a nursing home, but because most individuals would rather be cared for at home and home care is cheaper, all 50 states now have Medicaid programs that offer at least some home care.
What Can a Special Needs Trust Pay For?
A special needs trust has been likened to a “parent’s pocket” — that is, it pays for the kinds of things that a parent would just reach into his or her pocket to cover.
Push for Medicaid Work Requirements Encounters Headwinds
Efforts by the federal government and some states to require certain Medicaid beneficiaries to work in order to maintain eligibility for benefits has run into a series of obstacles, both in the courts and in state legislatures.
Medicare Launches App to Help Beneficiaries Find Out What's Covered
At the doctor’s office and want to know if a procedure is covered by Medicare? There is now an app for that.
Uber, Lyft Sued Over Wheelchair Access
Disability rights groups are suing both Uber and Lyft for failing to provide wheelchair-accessible ride-share vehicles.
Federal Housing Agency (Finally) Releases ABLE Guidance
At long last, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has said how ABLE accounts will affect eligibility for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and a host of other federal housing programs — and the news is good.
Disability Advocates Wary of Proposed Medicaid Funding Changes
A recent push by the federal government to change Medicaid’s funding structure is raising concerns among disability rights advocates that the effort will slash funding for necessary services.
Study Finds Big Health Benefits When SSDI Recipients Have Ready Access to Medigap Coverage
A new study finds that SSDI beneficiaries in states that make it easier for those with disabilities to get Medigap policies are substantially healthier than those in states that restrict access for those under age 65.