Patients looking for hospice care can now get help from Medicare’s website. The agency’s new Hospice Compare site allows patients to evaluate hospice providers according to several criteria. The site is…
Year: 2017
You Can Give Away More Tax Free in 2018
After staying the same for five years, the amount you can give tax free is increasing in 2018. The annual gift tax exclusion for 2018 is rising from $14,000 to…
Three Reasons Why Giving Your House to Your Children Isn't the Best Way to Protect It From Medicaid
You may be afraid of losing your home if you have to enter a nursing home and apply for Medicaid. While this fear is well-founded, transferring the home to your…
Problems with Guardianship Abuse Leading to Calls for Reform
A growing problem with adult guardianship abuse is giving rise to calls for reform of the system. Vulnerable elderly can get caught in the guardianship system, being harmed and exploited…
Use Your Will to Dictate How to Pay Your Debts
f someone dies with outstanding debt, the executor is responsible for making sure those debts are paid. This may require selling assets that you would like to leave to specific…
New Yorker Article Highlights Abuses in the Guardianship System
Serious problems with the public guardianship system in the United States can lead to elder abuse, according to an in-depth article in The New Yorker titled “How the Elderly Lose…
Nursing Home Costs Rise Sharply in 2017
The median cost of a private nursing home room in the United States has increased to $97,455 a year, up 5.5 percent from 2016, according to Genworth’s 2017 Cost of…
Pay Attention to the Small Details When Dealing with Long-Term Care Insurers
A long-term care insurance company recently cancelled the insurance coverage of an elderly woman who accidentally wrote the wrong amount on her premium check. The case illustrates the need for…
Florida Nursing Home Tragedy Causes Rethinking of Disaster Preparedness
The recent tragedy in which ten Florida nursing home residents died when the nursing home lost power during Hurricane Irma is causing government officials to rethink disaster planning.
Why You Should Use a Lawyer for Medicaid Planning
Many seniors and their families don’t use a lawyer to plan for long-term care or Medicaid, often because they’re afraid of the cost. But an attorney can help you save…