Medicare

16 Jan MEDICAID BIRD BOX TEN COMMON MISTAKES WHEN APPLYING FOR LONG-TERM CARE MEDICAID

Posted at 16:26h in Business, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Retirement, Social Security, Transfer of Death

As the aging population continues to grow, there is more likelihood of disability and a need for long-term care. However, the majority of elderly Americans fail to have long-term care insurance or have adequate assets to be self-insured. As a result, many elderly people rely...

11 Jul ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER – STUDIES SHOW FRIENDS AND FAMILY COULD ADD TO LIFE EXPECTANCY

Posted at 19:31h in Alzheimer’s, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Quality of Life

Recent studies show loneliness can reduce life expectancy by eight years – not to mention quality of life. It is estimated that Medicare spends an extra $6.7 billion annually on seniors as a result of social isolation. Recognizing this problem, a California healthcare provider, Care...

01 Feb 3 Potential Targets for Long-Term Medicaid Reform

Posted at 20:55h in Beneficiary, Divorce, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Retirement, Social Security

Now that the new law (the Tax and Jobs Act) has been passed resulting in less tax revenue for the federal government, it is anticipated that there will be changes to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid so that expenses will be cut. As mentioned in...

25 Sep SUCCESS STORY OF THE MONTH

Posted at 11:00h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Social Security, Success Story of the Month, Taxes, Wills

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (the names have been changed for confidentiality reasons) had the unusual situation where both of them had to go into a nursing home at approximately the same time. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Smith has long-term care insurance. Both could live a...

14 Jun CONGRESS GRANTS $400 MILLION INCREASE FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

Posted at 11:00h in Alzheimer’s, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have come to a bipartisan agreement on a historic increase of $400 million in Alzheimer’s research at a time when the government is looking for ways to cut expenses. This shows that Congress feels that significant progress has been made and...

15 Mar THE “STATE AGE RATING FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2017” SHOULD BE CALLED THE “AGE TAX OF 2017”

Posted at 09:00h in Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Retirement

Federal law presently limits charging older adults (generally between 50 and 64 since many get Medicare at age 65) who need health insurance policies no more than three times the amount they charge other people the same products. However, if the State Age Rating Flexibility...

06 Feb Am I Killing the Goose that laid the Golden Egg? How tax-deferred annuities can be used in Texas in Retirement Accounts so that the Government pays for care costs

Posted at 20:32h in Assisted Living, Dementia, End of Life Care Planning, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Retirement, Short Term Care, Social Security

Usually the biggest asset that most Americans have is either a home or their retirement accounts or both. Americans are living longer than ever before, but most have inadequate long-term care insurance coverage. Most mistakenly think that Medicare will take care of them if they...

26 Oct CMS BANS PRE-DISPUTE “BINDING” ARBITRATION CLAUSES IN NURSING HOME ADMISSIONS CONTRACTS – BUT WILL IT STAND?

Posted at 20:15h in Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

Most trial attorneys would say that plaintiffs are likely to receive more damages if they sue and have a right to a jury trial than if they are bound by arbitration. As a result, nursing homes and similar facilities routinely require that patients or their...

09 Jun WHAT IS A MILLER TRUST?

Posted at 09:14h in Beneficiary, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Miller Trust, Nursing Home, Social Security, Trusts

**Please note that the Medicaid income and asset limitations are subject to change, please click here for 2018 Medicaid Numbers** Although “Miller” or “Qualified Income” Trusts have been around for over twenty years (this author has been doing them since they were first approved in Texas in...

21 Jan State Attorney Generals Attack Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements

Posted at 10:12h in Assisted Living, Elder Justice, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

At the present time, most nursing homes require residents or their “responsible party” to sign a nursing home admission agreement which binds the resident to arbitration instead of giving them the right to sue the facility if the facility is either negligent or is in...

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...

05 Aug SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES – BUT SUBSIDIES ARE USUALLY LOST AT 65

Posted at 06:00h in Elder Justice, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer

On June 25, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court protected the rights of consumers in all states, including states that did not set up their own health insurance marketplace to receive tax credits. Chief Justice John Roberts stated “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve...

Medicaid Services

Medicare

11 Jul ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER – STUDIES SHOW FRIENDS AND FAMILY COULD ADD TO LIFE EXPECTANCY

14 Jun CONGRESS GRANTS $400 MILLION INCREASE FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

15 Mar THE “STATE AGE RATING FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2017” SHOULD BE CALLED THE “AGE TAX OF 2017”

26 Oct CMS BANS PRE-DISPUTE “BINDING” ARBITRATION CLAUSES IN NURSING HOME ADMISSIONS CONTRACTS – BUT WILL IT STAND?

21 Jan State Attorney Generals Attack Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements

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

05 Aug SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES – BUT SUBSIDIES ARE USUALLY LOST AT 65

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Medicare

16 Jan MEDICAID BIRD BOX TEN COMMON MISTAKES WHEN APPLYING FOR LONG-TERM CARE MEDICAID

02 Nov SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS TO RECEIVE 2.8% INCREASE IN 1029 – BUT IS THAT FAIR TO SENIORS?

11 Jul MEDICARE AND MEDICAID TARGETED TO REDUCE DEFICIT

11 Jul ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER – STUDIES SHOW FRIENDS AND FAMILY COULD ADD TO LIFE EXPECTANCY

01 Feb 3 Potential Targets for Long-Term Medicaid Reform

25 Sep SUCCESS STORY OF THE MONTH

14 Jun CONGRESS GRANTS $400 MILLION INCREASE FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

06 Apr TOP TAX DEDUCTIONS IF YOU ARE OVER 50

15 Mar THE “STATE AGE RATING FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2017” SHOULD BE CALLED THE “AGE TAX OF 2017”

06 Feb Am I Killing the Goose that laid the Golden Egg? How tax-deferred annuities can be used in Texas in Retirement Accounts so that the Government pays for care costs

01 Nov SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS TO GET NOMINAL BENEFIT INCREASE IN 2017 – BUT THEY STILL END UP LOSING $

26 Oct CMS BANS PRE-DISPUTE “BINDING” ARBITRATION CLAUSES IN NURSING HOME ADMISSIONS CONTRACTS – BUT WILL IT STAND?

09 Jun WHAT IS A MILLER TRUST?

25 Feb HEALTH CARE SPENDING OVERTAKES SOCIAL SECURITY

21 Jan State Attorney Generals Attack Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements

17 Dec Common Strategies to Increase Social Security Income for Married Couples Eliminated by Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015

07 Nov STAGGERING INCREASE IN MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS AVERTED BY CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET DEAL

29 Oct Michael spoke at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation

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

05 Aug SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES – BUT SUBSIDIES ARE USUALLY LOST AT 65