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…
Category: Legislation
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…
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…
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…
Using a Prepaid Funeral Contract to Spend Down Assets for Medicaid
No one wants to think about his or her death, but a little preparation in the form of a prepaid funeral contract can be useful. In addition to helping your…
Are Trusts Still Useful If the Estate Tax Is Repealed?
A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee,” holds legal title to property for another…
New Protections for Nursing Home Residents
New Obama-era rules designed to give nursing home residents more control of their care are gradually going into effect. The rules give residents more options regarding meals and visitation as…
Study Finds That Social Security Workers Often Provide Incomplete Information
Study found that the Social Security field offices often did not provide key information that would help people make well-informed decisions about when to file for benefits.
Short-Term Care Insurance: An Alternative to the Long-Term Care Variety
Short-term care insurance provides coverage for nursing home or home care for one year or less.
Hospitals Now Must Provide Notice About Observation Status
All hospitals must now give Medicare recipients notice when they are in the hospital under observation status. The notice requirement is part of a law enacted in 2015 but that…