The second planning consideration for Medi-Cal Long Term Care Benefits (LTC) is called share of cost. Once Medi-Cal LTC eligibility is established (See Part II), attention turns to share of cost. It is the co-pay requirement of Medi-Cal LTC. Typically, a Medi-Cal LTC beneficiary must contribute their monthly income towards the cost of his or her care. This usually includes Social Security, pensions, investment and rental income, among others. Certain deductions are allowed, e.g., health … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Long Term Care Primer – Part 3 of 4
Long Term Care Planning
Medi-Cal Long Term Care Primer – Part 2 of 4
In this blog, we will address how eligibility for Medi-Cal long term care (LTC) benefits is established. Eligibility is essentially an asset test. For eligibility purposes, assets fall within one of three categories: countable (non-exempt), not countable (exempt) and unavailable (countable, but not counted). To be eligible for Medi-Cal LTC, an individual applicant's countable assets must be below $2,000. If the applicant is married, in 2015, the spouse can have another $119,220 of countable … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Long Term Care Primer – Part 2 of 4
Medi-Cal Long Term Care Primer – Part 1 of 4
Many persons are confused about the Medi-Cal Long Term Care benefits program. This is perfectly understandable. Medi-Cal is a complex public benefits program that is a joint venture of the federal, state and county governments. There are state and federal statutes, state and federal regulations, less formal rules and procedures and, add to that, the rules change from time to time and vary from county to county and sometimes among workers within a county. An additional concern in these … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Long Term Care Primer – Part 1 of 4
How to Pay for Long Term Care (Part 2 of 2)
As we pointed out in the first part of this article, at a certain point in most people’s lives, they become concerned about paying for long term care. There are 5 basic ways to pay for long term care. We discussed private pay, long term care insurance and Medicare in part one. Now, we turn to Medi-Cal and Veterans Aid and Attendance. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal is a form of public assistance for families who meet specified income and asset requirements. Eigible Californians use Medi-Cal to pay … [Read more...] about How to Pay for Long Term Care (Part 2 of 2)
How to Pay for Long Term Care (Part 1 of 2)
At a certain point in most people’s lives, they become concerned about paying for long term care. There are 5 basic ways to pay for long term care: 1. Private Pay 2. Long Term Care Insurance 3. Medicare 4. Medi-Cal 5. Veterans Benefits Not all of these methods will be available to all persons. For example, veterans benefits are limited to only certain veterans. Long term care insurance may not be available for persons with certain pre-existing … [Read more...] about How to Pay for Long Term Care (Part 1 of 2)
Estate Planning When You’ve Been Diagnosed With a Terminal Illness
Sometimes, people come to an estate planning attorney after having been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. Such situations force people to consider issues many have never considered before, such as inheritance choices and medical wishes. While creating an estate plan under a significant time pressure is not an ideal situation, you can create a plan that will protect you and your family if you have been diagnosed with such a terminal illness. Here are some important concepts you need to … [Read more...] about Estate Planning When You’ve Been Diagnosed With a Terminal Illness
Common Nursing Home Litigation Causes
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.5 million Americans currently reside in a nursing home. While nursing homes, assisted living centers, and other long-term care facilities provide millions of elderly Americans with the care they need, they can also cause elderly people serious harm. In fact, thousands of cases arise every year because nursing home residents are harmed while under the care of a facility that’s supposed to protect them. Here are some of the more … [Read more...] about Common Nursing Home Litigation Causes
Some Simple Preparations Can Help You Choose the Right Retirement Home
If you have decided it’s time to move to a retirement home or you are just thinking about it, there are some practical steps you can take to help make choosing the right home a lot easier. Investigating each elder care facility you are thinking about does not take a lot of effort, but you will want to have a plan in place. Here are several tips you can use to help get you started. Make several visits. Start by creating a list of all the retirement homes you think match your needs and budget. … [Read more...] about Some Simple Preparations Can Help You Choose the Right Retirement Home
Elder Care Rising
If you have an elderly relative or family member, the chances that you will provide some kind of elder care service are increasing. According to a recent survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, nearly 40% of adults provided some kind of elder care services in 2013. That’s nearly 2 out of every 5 people, and it represents a significant increase from the 30% that were providing such care only three years ago in 2010. The study reveals that about 40% of men and 37% of women have … [Read more...] about Elder Care Rising
Life Settlements Laws Gaining Momentum as States Seek to Reduce Medicaid Expenses
When people apply for Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, they have to be able to prove that they do not own more than the specific asset limit. If they qualify, Medicaid will then pay for their health and long-term care expenses. Those who don’t qualify for Medicaid and who need to transfer to a nursing home or extended care facility, or who require other types of long-term care, will have to pay for these expenses privately. In an attempt to mitigate the long-term care Medicaid … [Read more...] about Life Settlements Laws Gaining Momentum as States Seek to Reduce Medicaid Expenses
