Medical Assistance – 2020 update

Medical Assistance, known nationally as “Medicaid” is a federal and state program that provides healthcare coverage for certain individuals, including the elderly and disabled. Federal law provides the broad outline for coverage but states interpret and adjust access to coverage. In Pennsylvania, the program is administered by the Department of Human Services (“DHS”) whose responsibility […]

Medicaid's Treatment of the Home

Nursing home residents do not automatically have to sell their homes in order to qualify for Medicaid, but that doesn’t mean the house is completely protected.

IRS Issues Long-Term Care Premium Deductibility Limits for 2020

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2020 income as a result of buying long-term care insurance.

Home Care Costs Rise Sharply in Annual Long-Term Care Cost Survey

When it comes to long-term care costs, the charges for home care are now rising faster than those for nursing home care, according to Genworth’s 2019 Cost of Care survey.

Medicare Premiums to Increase By Almost $10 a Month in 2020

After small or no increases the past couple of years, Medicare’s Part B premium will rise sharply in 2020. The basic monthly premium will increase $9.10, from $135.50 a month to $144.60. 

What to Do If You Are Appointed Guardian of an Older Adult

Being appointed guardian of a loved one is a serious responsibility. As guardian, you are in charge of your loved one’s well-being and you have a duty to act in his or her best interest.  

Medicaid's Power to Recoup Benefits Paid: Estate Recovery and Liens

Under Medicaid law, following the death of the Medicaid recipient a state must attempt to recover from his or her estate whatever benefits it paid for the recipient’s care.

Don't Let Medicare Open Enrollment Go By Without Reassessing Your Options

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, during which you can freely enroll in or switch plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Don’t let this period slip by without shopping around to see whether your current choices are the best ones for you.  

The 2020 Social Security Increase Will Be Smaller than 2019's

The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.6 percent increase in benefits in 2020, nearly half of last year’s change. The small rise has advocates questioning whether the government is using the proper method to calculate increases.

Learn About Social Security's Online Tools

With the aging population becoming increasingly tech savvy, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has moved a lot of services online. From applying for Social Security benefits to replacing a card, the SSA has online tools to help.