Blog
Medicaid Planning: Penalty Period
The previous blog post looked at what transfers trigger Medicaid eligibility penalties. In short, any uncompensated or below-market transfer made in the five years prior to applying for Medicaid will cause an applicant to be penalized for future Medicaid eligibility....
Medicaid Planning: What Transfers Affect Eligibility?
In addition to looking at an applicant’s current financial status to determine eligibility for Medicaid benefits, the state also looks at transfers of money or property over the past five years. This five year period is sometimes referred to as the “lookback period.”...
Planning Your Digital Estate
Many adults do not have a Will, a Financial Power of Attorney or aren’t even sure what a Healthcare Directive is. If you are among these adults, then preparing an estate plan should be at the top of your to-do list. But even if you do have an estate plan, it might be...
Missouri Legislature Passes Medicaid Asset Limit Increase
Currently Missouri has the lowest asset cap for Medicaid coverage for the elderly and disabled, but this may change if Gov. Jay Nixon signs a bill, recently passed by the Missouri legislature, that would increase the asset cap over time. The current asset cap of...
Special Needs Trust Fairness Act
The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act is proposed federal legislation that, if passed and signed into law, would allow individuals to set up their own special needs trusts without the need of a third party. A Special Needs Trust, or SNT, is a trust that allows a...
Calming Someone with Dementia
A person with dementia, or Alzheimer’s, can develop severe anxieties or work themselves into a state of agitation that can be baffling or frightening to those around them. This post, using techniques developed by Teepa Snow, an Alzheimer’s care expert, will discuss...
Dangers of Dying Without a Will
Recent reports have indicated that the singer Prince may have died without making either a will or an estate plan. While those reports may ultimately prove inaccurate, this is an appropriate time to point out the dangers of dying without a will or estate plan in...
NOTICE Act and Medicare Coverage
Recently the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new proposed rules implementing the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act (NOTICE Act) that affect notifications patients receive regarding their status during...
Discussing Care Options with Loved Ones
If the time comes when an elderly loved one nears the point where living at home becomes an increasingly untenable option, getting your loved ones to realize that a nursing home, or other care facility, is the best option may be a difficult conversation to have. There...
Keeping Your Estate Plan Flexible
Planning your bequests around specific assets, specifically assets that avoid probate by transferring on death, can present dilemmas both during your life and for your beneficiaries after your passing. A better alternative would be to create an estate plan that gives...
