Can an elder law attorney help me plan for the high cost of long-term care?

One of the most important components of an estate planning for anyone near, or at, retirement age is long-term care (LTC) planning. The odds of needing LTC are high, and the cost of that care prohibitive for the average person. Moreover, neither the average health insurance plan nor Medicare will pay for LTC expenses. Unless you can afford to pay out of pocket you will likely find yourself turning to Medicaid for help. To be eligible, however, you must contend with very low “countable resources” limits that can put your retirement nest egg at risk if you failed to plan ahead. An elder law attorney can help you incorporate LTC planning into your estate plan by including Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) planning tools and strategies in your comprehensive plan.