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Elder Law Articles

Why Use Trust Planning?

This article shows the benefits of multi-generational asset protection planning, using trusts.

Medicaid Application Checklist

Applying for Medicaid, or Medical Assistance, for long-term care costs can be daunting. The following checklist provides a list of items you or your loved one will need to complete the Medicaid Application in Pennsylvania.

Powers of Attorney: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

Powers of attorney (POAs) are an essential document in planning for a client’s potential incapacity and/or long-term care needs. This article discusses financial powers of attorney and their utility in connection with an elderly client’s needs.

Medicaid Eligibility: Can I Gift Cash To My Children?

When meeting with clients and prospective clients, we often get questions about the gift tax, gift tax exemptions, and how a gift of cash affects Medicaid eligibility. To properly understand how these items interact, each needs to be understood separately before taking them together.

What Is Estate Recovery?

Among the many terms that arise in connection with Medicaid planning is the concept of Estate Recovery, which is the process by which the government recoups part of the Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of a Medicaid applicant during their lifetime.

Is the Home an Exempt Asset?

Clients frequently want to know whether their home (or in some cases their parents’ home) is an “exempt” asset for Medicaid purposes. The answer is a resounding “Yes, but …”.

Look-Back Period vs. Period of Ineligibility

Elder law is a complicated area of legal practice, and thus clients sometimes confuse certain concepts that are similar, but distinct. An example of this is the difference between the five year look-back period and the period of ineligibility for Medicaid that is caused by transfers within the look-back period.

MEDICARE vs. MEDICAID: What’s the difference?

Clients and even certain professional often confuse MEDICARE and MEDICAID. The terms refer to types of benefits that are radically different.

Types of Special Needs Trusts

Last month’s article discussed the concept and utility of special needs trusts – a type of trust that is commonly used to benefit disabled persons who are receiving (or may in the future receive) mean-tested public benefits. Here we will review the different types of special needs trusts.

Special Needs Trusts

How do I provide for the anticipated future needs of my disabled child without compromising their ability to qualify for government benefits? A special needs trust (sometimes also called a supplemental needs trust) can be a way to bridge that gap.

What Happens If I Do Not Pay the Nursing Home?

Nonpayment of a nursing home can be an issue, especially during a period of ineligibility created by gifting. The questions becomes “Who will pay the invoice for the nursing home during this period?”

Is Medicaid Going to Take My Home?

Under federal law, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is required to recover the Medical Assistance (MA) costs from the estates of decedents who received MA benefits during life. The official name is the Medical Assistance Estate Recovery Program.

How Does Medicaid Pay For My Care?

If an individual meets both the health and financial eligibility requirements, Medicaid pays the majority of costs for care services received at home or in a facility. Services provided in the home are under “Medicaid Waiver.”

What Is the 5-Year Look-Back Period for Medicaid?

A look-back period meant to prevent Medicaid applicants from giving away assets or receiving less than fair market value in order to meet Medicaid’s asset limit.

How Do I Qualify for Medicaid?

A number of requirements must be met in order for an applicant to become eligible for Medicaid to pay for the applicant’s long-term care.

38 articles total

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