The following article by Valerie Peterson, J.D. CEO of ElderCounsel is the most up-to-date status of President Trump’s repeal and replace efforts for the ACA: On May 4, House Republicans passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), an updated version of the Act first introduced in March and which was not voted on. If it passes…
The national average rate for assisted living is $3,628 per month, according to Genworth’s 2016 Cost of Care Survey. No matter what your socio-economic status, make sure you are taking advantage of all means available that can help pay for assisted living. Most families pay for assisted living out of their own pockets using a…
The Veteran’s Administration (VA) offers a pension benefit to low-income veterans (or their spouses) who are in nursing homes or who need help at home with everyday tasks like dressing or bathing. The pension, called Aid and Attendance, is currently underused, but impending regulations will soon make it available to even fewer veterans. The new regulations…
We had talked about everything else and now the obvious. “I can help you with all of your planning for your estate and end of life decisions.” “Oh, no! I have all of that taken care of…years ago. I put all of that in place. A Will, a Power of Attorney, a Living Will. I…
If you were injured or became seriously ill while serving in the military, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. In 2017, eligible veterans can receive up to $3,458 per month tax-free, depending on the level of disability and number of dependents. According to the VA’s website, disability compensation is paid to veterans who are…
Medicaid, the single largest source of health coverage in the United States, provides health coverage to almost 75 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a federal program, but it is administered by the states. To participate in Medicaid, federal law requires states to cover certain groups of…
The recent Republican effort to replace “Obamacare” a.k.a. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) with The American Healthcare Act (AHA) claimed an urgency because the ACA is “exploding.” President Trump claims the best approach is now to let the ACA explode. Despite this rhetoric, Obamacare is far from exploding, using any reasonable definition of the word.…
Long-term care costs can add up quickly. That’s why we focus on helping our clients plan for these costs. For veterans and the surviving spouses of veterans who need in-home care or are in a nursing home, we can help. Only about 1/3 of eligible Veterans take advantage of this benefit! The Veterans Administration (VA)…
From the Legacy Estate Planning Newsletter I found some staggering numbers. It’s a concern to be informed that so many people of all ages and backgrounds have this one thing common: They don’t have a will. Here are 10 reasons to have a will: 1.You get to decide who’s in charge–By designating an executor of your estate, you…
Although their names are confusingly alike, Medicaid and Medicare are quite different programs. Both programs provide health coverage, but Medicare is an “entitlement” program, meaning that everyone who reaches age 65 and is entitled to receive Social Security benefits also receives Medicare. (Medicare also covers people of any age who are permanently disabled or who have end-stage…