It is a common misconception that any type of living trust can protect your assets from nursing home expenses.  While there are various types of trusts, not all of them offer asset protection.  Those that do are subject to certain requirements or limitations.  However, if you engage in proper Medi-Cal planning, including the use of an appropriate trust, you may be able to avoid exhausting your assets just to pay for nursing home costs. Revocable Living Trusts A revocable trust, more commonly … [Read more...] about The Benefits of a Living Trust for Medi-Cal Planning

Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, provides no-cost or low-cost health insurance for blind, disabled, pregnant, or in a long-term facility.  The program also provides benefits for non-disabled, non-elderly and qualifying adults aged 19-64 whose income levels are at or below 138% the Federal Poverty Level. It is important to know that the Medi-Cal benefits are available if you qualify or you have a loved one who qualifies. Understanding the law is an important part of proper Medi-Cal … [Read more...] about Understanding the Law is Part of Proper Medi-Cal Planning

When it comes to the potential need for long-term care, Medi-Cal planning is needed to protect your assets, especially your home, from Medi-Cal recovery. One way to do that is to create an irrevocable Medi-Cal trust. But, what if you want to revoke that trust later on? Here is what you need to know. The benefits of Medi-Cal planning The purpose of Medi-Cal benefits is to assist California residents in paying for medical services.  Because Medi-Cal is a needs-based program, unmarried recipients … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Trusts as Part of Medi-Cal Planning

An issue that every Sacramento Medi-Cal planning attorney faces is the client that ignores the need for Medi-Cal planning because they are healthy. What clients must understand is that sickness is not the only reason you may need long-term care.  For example, if you suffer a serious injury in a car accident, there is certainly a possibility that you will need long-term care in order to fully recover from that injury.  In many cases, loved ones are admitted to nursing homes because of the need … [Read more...] about Healthy Californians Should Still Plan for Long-Term Care

One of the primary concerns clients have about Medi-Cal eligibility deals with previously transferred assets. In many cases, clients have already taken some bad advice and given away their assets in anticipation of applying for Medi-Cal benefits. However, as Medi-Cal planning lawyers understand, there are still options even for your previously transferred assets. Here is what you need to know. Medi-Cal eligibility for Sacramento residents Medi-Cal is essentially one basic benefits program that … [Read more...] about How Can Medi-Cal Planning Save Previously Transferred Assets?

A common concern for many clients who are Medi-Cal recipients is that if they use Medi-Cal to pay for long-term care, they will lose everything they have. There is a misconception that Medi-Cal will take their homes or leave their healthy spouses penniless. Another concern is that once a Medi-Cal recipient passes away, Medi-Cal will come after their estate. We are here to explain how estate recovery works. What does “estate recovery” mean for Medi-Cal recipients? It is a requirement that, when … [Read more...] about Will My Parent’s Estate Be Subject to Medi-Cal Estate Recovery?

Medi-Cal fraud and abuse are an unfortunate reality in our state.  Fraud and abuse of these important government benefits cost the country billions of dollars each year, as a result of diverted funds that should have been used for valid medical services.  Due to this abuse, the cost of Medi-Cal has continuously increased for many.  Fraud and abuse also lead to an unnecessary risk of harm to patients when they are being unnecessarily subjected to medical procedures for the benefit of fraudulent … [Read more...] about Sacramento Medi-Cal Planning Attorney Warn About Fraud

It may not be common knowledge, but many of the individuals who eventually need long-term care are not sick in the traditional sense but are merely incapable of caring for themselves.  If you are inclined to plan ahead for the possible need for long-term care, one way to start is by investing long-term care insurance. What is long-term care insurance? Most people are very familiar with health insurance, life insurance, homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance.  But a lesser known type of … [Read more...] about Basics of Long-Term Care Insurance