Blog Feed: MA Medicaid Lawyer | Massachusetts Medicaid Planning Services

The prospect of no longer being able to make our own decisions and take care of ourselves is something no one wants to think about, but whether through sudden illness [...] > read more

Three Steps to Estate Planning Success

Published on 2012-05-11 14:40:16

Recently I read an article on the various strategies available for achieving success in elder care using the acronym “SOS” to illustrate the path toward creating a positive solution. With [...] > read more

Trust Planning Examples for MassHealth Eligibility

Published on 2012-05-08 12:56:44

Planning ahead for potential disability and long-term care needs is essential to the goals of many Massachusetts families. However, how savings are achieved through estate planning can be difficult to [...] > read more

6 Steps for Protecting Your Health as You Age

Published on 2012-04-27 08:05:32

Estate planning and elder law go hand-in-hand with health planning to ensure that Massachusetts seniors age comfortably and according to the plan they have chosen for themselves. And just like [...] > read more

How to Discuss Estate Planning and Care Needs with Aging Parents

Published on 2012-03-28 11:15:26

The absolute worst time to broach a conversation with an elderly parent about issues like powers of attorney, where he/she eventually might reside and medical costs is after an emergency [...] > read more

Know the Difference between Medicare, Medicaid and MassHealth

Published on 2012-03-21 08:43:33

With so many government programs out there it is easy to confuse which one can help with what. It doesn’t help that Medicare, Medicaid and MassHealth all sound similar and [...] > read more

Massachusetts Medicaid Trusts Protect Assets for the Whole Family

Published on 2012-02-17 08:39:50

Many of the seniors I work with transfer assets, often their homes, into irrevocable trusts in order to protect their property in the event they or their spouse need long-term [...] > read more

Caring for Seniors at Home in Massachusetts

Published on 2012-02-15 18:25:28

Planning ahead for potential disability often centers on protecting assets in order for seniors to qualify for MassHealth coverage of nursing home care. However, for many seniors and their families, [...] > read more

MA Senior Care: How to Pay for Emergency Medical Needs

Published on 2012-02-14 17:40:56

When an aging spouse or loved one undergoes a medical emergency, such as a fall resulting in broken bones, serious questions arise about what to do next. Finding them the [...] > read more

How Can an Attorney Help with MassHealth Applications?

Published on 2012-01-30 08:04:10

MassHealth/Medicaid applicants and their families need to keep in mind that while the MassHealth application process can be daunting, it is never too late to take steps to protect your [...] > read more

MassHealth/Medicaid Update: 2012 Spousal Allowance Increased

Published on 2012-01-25 17:53:30

Applicants for Medicaid (MassHealth in Massachusetts), can only qualify for long-term care benefits when they meet very strict asset guidelines. A MassHealth applicant may have only $2,000 worth of countable [...] > read more

6 Easy Steps for MassHealth/Medicaid Asset Protection

Published on 2012-01-20 17:13:50

Planning ahead for MassHealth (Medicaid in Massachusetts) eligibility is essential for seniors who want to protect their hard earned assets for themselves and their loved ones. However, the many rules [...] > read more

Options for Paying Massachusetts Family Caregivers

Published on 2012-01-12 13:44:21

Acting as a family caregiver for a frail senior can be an extremely challenging job. Often, family or friends expend huge personal and financial efforts to help a loved senior [...] > read more

The High Cost of Elder Care

Published on 2011-12-30 09:46:46

Forbes Magazine recently published a good article on the high cost of caring for a senior with medical needs, written from the perspective of an adult who realizes his father [...] > read more

Avoid Nursing Home Poverty

Published on 2011-12-27 19:11:15

Did you know that long-term care costs in Massachusetts can reach over $10,000…per month! That’s over $120,000 per year. Not many people, especially in these tough economic times, can afford [...] > read more

How to Fund a Massachusetts Irrevocable Trust

Published on 2011-12-13 19:07:50

An Irrevocable Living Trust can in some ways be compared to a car without gas: it only works for you when you put something in it. Creating an Irrevocable Trust [...] > read more

MassHealth Planning and Prepaid Funeral Accounts

Published on 2011-06-07 17:04:04

Funerals are never a fun thing to think about, especially when it’s your own. Nevertheless, failure to make plans for this inevitability can have negative consequences for you and your family both now and in the future. Prepaid funeral accounts&# > read more

MassHealth Applicants Can Get Bank Statements for Free

Published on 2011-06-01 19:18:06

Applying for MassHealth long-term care benefits to pay for nursing home care in Massachusetts, is an arduous process that requires quite a bit of supporting documentation. MassHealth can review up to five years’ worth of bank statements (the look- > read more

MassHealth Dental Benefit Cut-Backs Affect Seniors

Published on 2011-05-30 10:23:00

MassHealth (Medicaid in Massachusetts) provides a wide range of health and medical services to seniors. However, recently the MassHealth Dental Program has severely cut back on what it will cover for adults age 21 and over. Seniors seeking long-ter > read more

MassHealth Income Limits and Deductibles

Published on 2011-05-27 10:15:28

To qualify for MassHealth benefits, seniors must meet strict financial eligibility requirements. This includes both a limit on countable assets as well as income. In 2011, the monthly income limits for seniors seeking MassHealth benefits is $522 for > read more

Obtaining Retroactive MassHealth Benefits

Published on 2011-05-25 19:22:36

Oftentimes, clients seeking Medicaid benefits in Massachusetts (MassHealth) for their loved ones have already incurred costs associated with long-term care. If your loved one enters a nursing facility and then applies for MassHealth, it can be month > read more

MassHealth Treatment of Retirement Assets and Accounts

Published on 2011-05-04 17:54:04

Applying for long-term care benefits through MassHealth can be a complicated process in part because of the many rules governing how different assets are considered in determining eligibility. As I have discussed before, MassHealth has strict asset > read more

How to Tell if a Loved One Needs In-Home Care

Published on 2011-04-27 19:52:11

Determining when your loved one is no longer able to fully care for themselves anymore is rarely an easy task. Often seniors are reluctant to admit they need help for fear of losing their independence or simply out of embarrassment.… > read more

The MassHealth (Medicaid) Look-Back Period and Transfers

Published on 2011-04-23 15:11:39

In 2005, the Federal Government passed the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), which included changes to the MassHealth eligibility rules that greatly affect the way Massachusetts seniors can handle their finances and still qualify for MassHealth benefits. > read more

8 Common MassHealth Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Published on 2011-03-23 17:43:57

When someone begins looking into planning or applying for MassHealth (Medicaid in Massachusetts) benefits they often receive a lot of well intentioned advice from friends and loved ones. The fact is, however, that obtaining MassHealth benefits while > read more

Permissible Transfers of Real Estate under MassHealth (Medicaid)

Published on 2011-03-07 20:17:02

MassHealth (Medicaid) transfer rules dictate that transfers of assets for less than fair market value within a five year period of application will result in a period of ineligibility. Some MassHealth applicants may want to transfer their principal r > read more

Using Trusts in Long-term Care Planning

Published on 2011-02-25 14:25:22

With long-term care costs reaching $90,000 per year in Massachusetts, a long-term nursing home stay can easily impoverish all but the wealthiest of families. However, by using proper estate planning techniques, including trusts, you can protect your > read more

Online MassHealth (Medicaid) Application & Eligibility Regulations

Published on 2011-02-23 18:04:46

For those considering applying for MassHealth (Medicaid) benefits, the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services has posted the MassHealth application on its website as a downloadable form. The site offers several applications and information > read more

Joint Bank Account Rules for MassHealth (Medicaid) Applicants

Published on 2011-02-18 18:54:50

Many people as they age choose to have a trusted person, such as their child, added as a joint owner of their bank account to help manage their day-to-day finances. This arrangement is perfectly acceptable, however, those who plan on applying for Mas > read more

MassHealth (Medicaid) Permissible Real Estate Transfers

Published on 2011-02-16 20:06:31

Last Minute Medicaid Planning

Published on 2011-01-28 16:25:55

While planning ahead for Medicaid (MassHealth) qualification is always in your best interest, sometimes families are confronted with a crisis and need more immediate planning assistance. If your loved one needs to enter a long-term care facility in t > read more

Preparing for a MassHealth (Medicaid) Application

Published on 2011-01-23 12:52:58

Applying for MassHealth benefits can be a time consuming process. If you or a loved one needs to apply for MassHealth (i.e. Medicaid) benefits for long term care, or anticipate such a need in the future, you will need to … Continue reading U > read more

FDA to consider Alzheimers test for living patients

Published on 2011-01-21 17:14:15

One of the many frustrations of Alzheimer’s disease is the difficulty in pinpointing just who has it. According to published research, as many as one in five people told they have Alzheimer’s are mislabeled. A definitive diagnosis can be made > read more

MassHealth Planning for Multiple Disqualifying Transfers

Published on 2011-01-20 20:39:31

Where a MassHelath applicant makes multiple disqualifying transfers during the five year look-back period, the MassHealth agency will add the value of all resources transferred and determine a single period of ineligibility, based on the amount trans > read more

Medicaid Rules: Disqualifying Transfers

Published on 2011-01-20 20:36:59

When applying to Medicaid in Massachusetts (MassHealth), applicants will be subject to a five year “look-back” period. What this means is that the MassHealth agency will require the applicant to submit detailed records of all assets held or trans > read more

Alzheimer’s Therapy Focuses on Care – NYTimes.com

Published on 2011-01-14 15:17:07

Research suggests that creating positive emotional experiences for Alzheimer’s patients diminishes distress and behavior problems. In fact, science is weighing in on many aspects of taking care of dementia patients, applying evidence-based research > read more

How to Give Assets to the Grandkids Without Losing Control

Published on 2011-01-14 15:15:16

If you’ve been successful in saving your wealth into your golden years, chances are you may be thinking of ways to share your good fortune with your family. Older people often consider making sizable gifts to their grandchildren, in order … C > read more

Using a Life Estate Deed to Protect Your Home

Published on 2011-01-14 15:13:00

As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. Home is also where cherished family moments have been made, where you find comfort from life’s frenetic pace, and it is quite possibly your largest single asset. Obviously the home … Continue re > read more

Using the Durable Power of Attorney to Effectuate Medicaid Planning

Published on 2011-01-01 16:10:26

The durable power of attorney is an important tool for any well-rounded estate plan, but it may be even more important for those planning with an eye towards obtaining Medicaid (MassHealth) eligibility. In essence, establishing a durable power of att > read more

Using Annuities to Assist in Last-Minute Medicaid Planning

Published on 2011-01-01 16:08:51

In the world of estate planning, planning ahead is the name of the game because you just never know when you will need your estate plan to start working for you. Of course, many of us are procrastinators and life … Continue reading → > read more

Seniors: Circle Your Wagons to Protect the Homestead

Published on 2011-01-01 16:06:50

Dorothy hit it right on the head when she said, “There’s no place like home.” In fact, for many people their home is the single largest asset in their estate. For seniors, a simple estate planning tool can help protect … Continue reading > read more

Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease – NY Times Health Information

Published on 2011-01-01 16:04:48

Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Memory impairment, as well as problems wit > read more

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure in MassHealth Planning

Published on 2010-12-20 20:00:39

To be eligible for Medicaid in Massachusetts (MassHealth), an applicant needs to meet certain medical and financial requirements. To avoid being denied access to MassHealth, proper estate planning should be sought well before an anticipated need for > read more

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Blog Feed: MA Medicaid Lawyer | Massachusetts Medicaid Planning Services

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