Veterans who served during wartime (not dishonorably discharged), or the surviving spouse of the wartime veteran, will be getting a slight increase (considered a pension) to be used for care at home, assisted living facilities or in a nursing home from the Department of Veterans...
Texas Insurance Commission Proposes Rules to Regulate “Navigators” who help Apply for Health Care Programs On December 7, the Texas Insurance Commissioner published proposed rules to regulate “navigators” who will help Texas residents to apply for health care affordability including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance...
As many of you know, Texas is an income cap state in connection with long-term care Medicaid eligibility. Presently, if an applicant for nursing home Medicaid has "countable" income (certain income is exempt or excluded) over $2130 per month, then such applicant is ineligible for...
On October 28, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill (HR 2189) that has a three (3) year look-back period and penalizes a claimant for VA pension benefits (typically made by the veteran or his or her surviving spouse when such person has...
2014 Protected Resource Amount Increase - Government Helps Pay Nursing Home Cost Although not officially released, projections for the 2014 Protected Resource Amount (“PRA”) dollar figures can now be estimated in light of the consumer price index update recently made. These figures are used to determine how much...
The new Texas Estates Code (which will be replacing the Texas Probate Code) has changed the statutory durable power of attorney form that has been in existence since 1997. This change will be effective as of January 1, 2014. Although the existing forms or other...
Most people who need chronic care would usually prefer to live at home than in a nursing home. However, the Medicaid program is “institutionally biased” as it is easier to get care provided by Medicaid in a nursing home than at home or in an...
As of June 1, 2013, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) announced a new policy to assess a transfer penalty (assuming the transfer is within the five year “look-back” period) if a Medicaid applicant’s money is used to purchase a vehicle and the...
Although Texas did not “opt in” to accept federal dollars under the Affordable Care Act (the “Act”) which will provide health insurance even to those with pre-existing conditions, the present priority of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is to help the federal government...
As previously reported in the May issue of the Texas Elder Law E-Letter, a new Texas law will permit transfers to any 529 (college education fund) for the benefit of children and grandchildren as an exception to the transfer penalty rules (in addition to being...
