Medicaid Recertification and Pooled Income Trusts
Generally, once a year every Medicaid Home Care or Community Medicaid recipient must recertify for their Medicaid services. The purpose of recertification is to allow the Medicaid system to verify that the recipient is alive, and to determine that the recipient remains eligible for benefits. This is why Medicaid requires proof of the recipient's current […]
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Social Security Increases for 2015
The Social Security Administration has announced that Social Security benefits will increase by 1.7 percent in 2015, which translates to an average increase of $20.00 for the typical Social Security recipient. The 1.7 percent cost of living increase will become effective on January 1, 2015, but recipients should expect to receive a new Social Security […]
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Revisiting Spousal Impoverishment: No More Double Edged Sword
On November 3, 2014, Medicaid issued a new General Information System GIS 14 MA/25 stating that GIS 14 MA/15 has been rescinded. GIS 14 MA/15 had been issued on January 1, 2014. GIS 14 MA/15 provided that “spousal impoverishment with post-eligibility rules must be used when determining income and resource eligibility for married couples with […]
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Community Based Long Term Care: Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities
A large percentage of senior citizens will reach a point where living alone is no longer safe and prudent. An elderly person who is living alone is exposed to many risks and dangers that could lead to injuries such as trips and falls. Living alone often compounds depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness and social […]
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2014 Alzheimer's Association Report Shows Effect of Disease on Women
The 2014 report from the Alzheimer's Association showed that over 5 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's Disease. This number is expected to grow to 13 million over the next 35 years. According to the report, women are disproportionately affected by the disease. Three out of five Americans living with Alzheimer's are women. Women over […]
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When Heirs Collide
In its weekend edition of September 27-28, 2014, as the lead story in its Weekend Investor section, The Wall Street Journal published an article by veteran reporter, Liz Moyer, entitled When Heirs Collide. The article is sub-titled Fights over estates can tear families apart - and it's not just about the money. Here are guidelines […]
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Caregiver Agreements: When a Child Needs to Care for Mom or Dad
As our parents become elderly and infirm, the parent-child relationship is often reversed. Our parents are no longer taking care of us, and now it's our turn to take care of them. However, many seniors are reluctant to admit that their bodies, or their minds, are starting to fail. They don't want to give up […]
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Navigating Elder Care - Free Online Seminar - November 16 at 1:00 PM
This fall, Partners in Care, one of the premier providers of home care and geriatric care management in New York City, has been hosting a series of free online seminars focused on helping you make difficult elder care decisions. The next online seminar, The Financial Realities of Home Care takes place on November 16 at […]
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Do You Have a Health Care Proxy?
A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you (the principal) to appoint another person (the agent) to make health care decisions on your behalf. A Health Care Proxy only takes effect when you are unable to make health care decisions yourself, usually due to illness or incapacity. You can only name one […]
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Becoming a Snowbird: What to Consider
Seniors who are considering a change of residence should consider the cost of medical insurance and the availability of Medicaid benefits. For many seniors and retirees living in New York (and other northern states), the warm climates of, for example, Florida, Arizona or other southern states, may be appealing. Real estate developers have created numerous […]
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