As an Elder Law Attorney, clients often come to me when nearing 65, overwhelmed by the many alternatives available to them in choosing their healthcare. They ask: Do I need both Medicare A and B? Do I need a Prescription Drug Plan? What about a Supplement Plan? or Medicare Advantage Plan? In this Blog we answer these important questions asked by seniors as they …

Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys are often asked by clients whether a reverse mortgage is the right choice for them. The answer of course is that it depends on the circumstances. Are you over the age of 62? Do you have substantial equity in your home but limited cash resources to pay bills?  Do …

I applaud those of you who have taken the time to do an estate plan and protect your assets for yourself and your children. But is it enough to simply place those documents in a safe deposit box at a bank or fireproof safe (“Security Box”) within your home and think that you are done? …

Many people still believe that Medicare will cover all of their healthcare needs after the age of 65. Although Medicare covers much of one’s general health care, if you need to move into a nursing home, only a portion of the first ninety days of your stay will be covered.  So how do you pay …

Although Medicaid limits the assets that the spouse of a Medicaid applicant can retain, the income of the “community spouse” is not counted in determining the Medicaid applicant’s eligibility. Only income in the applicant’s name is counted. Thus, even if the community spouse is still working and earning, say, $5,000 a month, she will not …

Historically, the Veterans Administration (VA) Pension benefit known as “Aid and Attendance” has been a well kept secret .  However, for those who  have served in the military (or whose deceased spouse served in the military) during a time of war and meet certain other financial and need criteria, it can provide substantial financial assistance.  The benefit is available to a …

The basic rule for Medicaid Eligibility in the state of Maryland is that (except for married couples sharing a room and applying for medical assistance within 6 months of entry) , an applicant may have no more than $2,500 in countable assets in his or her own name.  But, in most instances the home will …

Should a person who is terminally ill be able to control how and when they die? This issue has received national attention recently due to the well publicized cases of Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old woman diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor who moved to Oregon (one of only three states with statutes allowing …

Now that the estate tax exemption has been stabilized at $5,000,000 and a husband and wife can actually give up to $10,000,000 at death (plus an indexed amount tied to inflation), to their loved ones, tax free, many people believe that estate planning is no longer necessary. This of course is a myth. Although tax …

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 10% of the population in 2011 was 65 years of age or older. Make no mistake, our population is aging and our life expectancy is growing well beyond what any of us could have imagined. Consequently, paying for one’s long-term health care is an ever-increasing problem.  With the …