Social Security

The Texas Senate has passed a bill (which has been sent to the Texas House) to facilitate the design and development of a Medicaid block grant waiver so that there would be a continuation of joint funding by the federal and state governments while allowing...

In recent years, numerous crowdfunding platform websites (such as GoFundMe, Indiego and Crowdrise) have grown rapidly raising millions of dollars (generally online) for various causes and individuals. Although the intent is often to help those with disabilities, it can actually be detrimental if the account...

A House of Representatives bill entitled as the “Close Annuity Loopholes in Medicaid Act” has been proposed earlier this month to reduce the benefits of an asset preservation strategy for a commonly used benefit of the “well” spouse in Medicaid planning when the ill spouse...

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...

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 $2,199 per month, then such applicant is ineligible for...

Although not officially released, projections for the 2017 Protected Resource Amount (“PRA”) dollar figures can now be estimated in light of the cost of living adjustment recently made. These figures are used to determine how much can be protected when one spouse is in a...

On June 1, 2003, the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring seizure of property in the estates of some Medicaid recipients after they die to repay the Medicaid programs for the assistance provided. The final rules published by the Texas Health & Human Services Commission...

**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...

On January 8, 2016, the “Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2016” was introduced allegedly to protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the basis of need of regular aid and attendance from “dishonest,...

The House of Representatives has a proposed bill (HR 1771) that would change long established rules for the use of single premium immediate annuities in planning for the protection of a well-spouse (commonly referred to as the “community spouse”) if his or her spouse needs...

The President has signed the  “Bipartisan Budget Act  of 2015” on November 2 , 2015  that otherwise could have resulted in as much as thirty percent of Medicare beneficiaries seeing a fifty two percent increase in their monthly Medicare Part B premiums (which cover doctor’s...

On October 13 Michael B. Cohen spoke at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation on issues including Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Medicaid Buy-In and other Medicaid programs. We are currently scheduling speaking engagements for 2016. Please call our office if...