Have you heard the news? It seems the grand experiment failed. The Congressional supercommittee, charged with doing what the Congress at large could not do, has run out of time. And, by running out of time, failed in its mission to come up with budget cuts. What does that mean for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries? As Reuters reports, in the event the supercommittee should fail, as it has, then automatic and sweeping cuts go into effect. For Medicare, that means a two percent cut across the board, or about $123 billion over the next decade. However, it might have been…
It’s Medicare season once again, but it’s early this time. Unfortunately, many seniors just haven’t gotten the message. The open enrollment period is now from October 15 to December 7. And that’s a whole month earlier than in the past. According to a recent survey in Florida and reported through the Kaiser Health News, nearly two-thirds of seniors are unaware that Medicare enrollment is earlier this year. So, why the change? The Affordable Care Act. Along with the accelerated enrollment period, it is hoped that beneficiaries will have their Medicare cards by the start of the New Year. Customarily, late…
Estate planning is never easy, if only because it means thinking about protecting your loved ones when you’re no longer around. It’s bad enough making plans to protect self-sufficient heirs who take care of themselves and an inheritance. However, it can be a real challenge when planning for heirs with special needs for a variety of personal and legal reasons. Unfortunately, as The Wall Street Journal Online recently pointed out, with the economy and politics as they are, there are new concerns to bear in mind as you plan. Both the State and federal budgets are strapped for cash and…
Did you know Medicare’s annual election period is just around the corner, October 15 through December 7, to be precise? Now is the time to evaluate your options. Should you stick with your current plan, or is it time to make a change? Would you be better off using Medicare classic or is a Medicare Advantage Plan the e-ticket? This is not planning that you should take lightly, especially when it comes to Medicare Advantage plans. According to a recent article on MarketWatch many seniors simply end up paying too much. Why? Because they either didn’t take the time to…
Are you or an elderly loved one receiving benefits from Medicare or Medicaid? If yes, then likely you already appreciate the funding problems facing Congress and its appointed “super committee” regarding the future of these programs. However, for many of today’s elderly, certain changes to these programs may be real and immediate. As a result, careful attention to the associated political developments is important. One area of specific focus is “dual-eligibles.” Seniors receiving aid from both Medicare and Medicaid are so-called “dual-eligibles” and, as such, their benefits are under scrutiny from the super committee. In fact, changes may be in…
It’s no secret that Medicare is a difficult system to understand. Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life for our nation’s seniors. As a result, Medicare is something we have to work to understand. For many of us, though, there is at least one more resource available to many of us, according to a recent article by SmartMoney. The problem with so many Medicare informational resources is that you have to read through tomes of legalese, sift through graphs and charts, and, in the end, you still haven’t figured out the answer to your question. Good news: A new program called…
By dedicating some time early on in the diagnosis and fighting for the cause during World Alzheimer’s Month and beyond, a family can know they have done everything to support their loved one to live a full life and protect their legacy. You may not have known but September is World Alzheimer’s Month. As the month comes to a close, it’s important not to forget about Alzheimer’s. Medical research and advocacy are vital causes to uphold. Nevertheless, it is a disease that you and your loved ones might have to face directly, if you have not already. The reality of…
Here’s another important reminder on how much of a stickler Medicare and Medicaid can be when it comes to denying benefits: the Matter of Komanoff Ctr. for Geriatric & Rehabilitative Medicine v Daines (N.Y. Sup. Ct., App. Div., 2nd Dept., No. 2010-05776, June 28, 2011) (here summarized on ElderLawAnswers.com.) It’s the case of Bernadette Jordan and how she entered a nursing home and filed for Medicaid only to find that the State ruled her ineligible for a period of 14.31 months. Apparently, Mrs. Jordan had transferred funds from a revocable trust to her daughter, to repay expenses that her daughter…
Hospice care can provide a great benefit to many families and their dying loved ones, and Medicare has been generally praised for its support through reimbursements to providers over the past 28 years. However, according to a recent article by Kaiser Health News and The New York Times, there is growing concern now about misuse of the program by for-profit hospice providers. Hospice care is intended to provide dying patients with palliative care in their own homes, or in a hospice facility or nursing home. But, as hospice has moved into the mainstream, concerns about excessive costs and misuse have…
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