Medicaid Planning

26 Aug WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES ACTIONS FOR ELDER JUSTICE & ABUSE PREVENTION

Posted at 06:00h in Elder Justice, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Nursing Home, Quality of Life

On July 13, 2015, major efforts for elder justice and prevention of elder abuse were announced at the White House Conference on Aging including: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will update and improve the quality and safety requirements of the nation’s nursing homes...

22 Apr Companion Bill Could Salvage Ladybird Deeds

Posted at 06:00h in Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Planning, Transfer of Death

Senate Bill 462 (companion bill) has been introduced so that new rights are not granted to the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program that would have occurred if the Transfer on Death Deed Act bill passes. As previously mentioned in the January issue of the Texas Elder...

14 Apr Bill Filed to Implement Able Act in Texas

Posted at 06:00h in Disability Benefits, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Quality of Life, Special Needs Trust

A bill has been proposed to the Texas legislature to implement the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) which allows adults and children with disabilities whose disability occurred before age 26 to shelter up to the annual exclusion (presently $14,000 per year) into an...

10 Apr SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST FUNDED BY IRAs

Posted at 06:00h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Inheritance, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

To Stretch or Not? According to a U.S. Census report, around 13 percent of our U.S. population who are not in an institution are disabled. It is anticipated with an aging population that over 50 million Americans are disabled. As a result, many plan for those...

06 Apr CARE SERVICES FOR MEDICAID & MEDICARE HOLDERS

Posted at 06:00h in Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare

TEXAS DUAL (MEDICARE AND MEDICAID) ELIGIBLE INTEGRATED CARE PROJECT IMPLEMENTED IN DALLAS AND TARRANT COUNTIES Dallas and Tarrant Counties are two of the six counties in Texas that are part of a demonstration project whereby individuals can receive managed care services if they are eligible for both...

31 Mar Medicaid Transfer Penalty Divisor to Be Increased in Year 2015

Posted at 06:00h in Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

It is anticipated that the Texas Medicaid transfer penalty divisor will be increased to the rate of $162.41 for those who apply for long-term care Medicaid on or after September 1, 2015. Under the long-term care Medicaid Rules, it is presumed that if an applicant...

09 Mar Special Needs Trust Fairness Act Reintroduced

Posted at 06:00h in Guardianship, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Quality of Life, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

Although the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act did not pass in the last federal legislative session, it has been introduced again to overcome the present legal presumption that all disabled persons lack sufficient mental capacity to handle their own assets. As a result of a law...

27 Feb TRANSFER ON DEATH (“TOD”) DEEDS

Posted at 06:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Wills

Most of us are familiar with POD or “Pay on Death” provisions in bank accounts, but many are not familiar with real estate passing at death without a will or trust. Among the crop of new legislation being considered by the 84th Texas Legislature is...

13 Feb VA PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES TO PENSION RULES

Posted at 06:00h in Assisted Living, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Trusts, Veterans

The Veteran’s Administration has proposed new rules for eligibility for VA pensions and the Aid and Attendance benefit which are often used by wartime Veterans or their surviving spouses to help pay for the cost of care such as assisted living facilities and nursing homes....

06 Feb Medicare Changes in 2015

Posted at 06:00h in Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

It’s a new year and with it come a few changes to Medicare. The good news is that Medicare Part B premiums remain at $104.90 per month if your income is below $85,000, and if your income is above $85,000 your premiums for doctor visits...