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Medicaid Spend Down: Pay for More Than Just Medical Bills

Lavelle & Finn


Since the 1960s, Medicaid has provided health care coverage for low-income people across the United States. For millions of seniors, Medicaid offers financial assistance, helping them to cover the cost of long-term care services. Today, this joint federal-state program also benefits other qualifying populations with limited income, including children and people with disabilities. Qualifying for Medicaid […]

Which States Have the Best Protections Against Elder Abuse?

Lavelle & Finn


The United States Census Bureau predicts that the nation’s population of older adults nationwide will have doubled from 49.2 million in 2016 to 94.7 million in 2060. As the population grows as well as ages, elder abuse remains a significant concern. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 10 percent of older adults experience some form of abuse […]

Retirees: Deduct Your Long-Term Care Insurance Premium

Lavelle & Finn


Even if you have a long-term care insurance policy, you may likely be hoping that you won’t ever have reason to use it. Regardless of what the future holds, there’s one silver lining of which you may not be aware. That is, premiums on many long-term care insurance policies are in fact tax-deductible. What Is […]

Getting Help When Providing Care at Home for Aging Parents

Lavelle & Finn


As they grow older, your parents may prefer to continue living in their home rather than moving to a long-term care facility. They are not alone in this; more than three-quarters of adults over the age of 50 say they would prefer to age in place. If your parent can safely live at home on […]

Medicare Benefits 2024: 5 Positive Changes for Seniors

Lavelle & Finn


More than 65 million seniors across the country benefit from Medicare, a government health insurance program. When Does Medicare Start? At age 65, you become eligible for Medicare if you are a U.S. citizen. You do not have to wait until you retire to apply for the program. You can enroll in Medicare beginning three […]

Are You a Family Caregiver? New Bill Seeks to Lower Costs

Lavelle & Finn


Recently proposed legislation seeks to offer financial relief for unpaid family caregivers. Introduced in November 2023, the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2023 is the result of a bipartisan effort to lessen the costs of family caregiving. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has also endorsed the bill. If the act becomes law, it would amend the […]

Most US Workers Say They Will File for Social Security Early

Lavelle & Finn


To secure the maximum amount in monthly Social Security retirement benefits, Americans must wait until full retirement age to start receiving their payouts. Results from a 2023 survey show that most of today’s workers know about this stipulation – and yet the vast majority say they’re willing to file for their Social Security benefits early anyway. UK-based wealth management […]

Pay Monthly for Medicare Part D Prescriptions Come 2025

Lavelle & Finn


What Is Medicare Part D? Adults who are age 65 and older can enroll in Medicare, a federal health insurance program. If you have signed up for Medicare Part A, Part B, or both, you can also sign up for Part D. Available through private insurers, Medicare Part D remains optional and covers certain categories […]

2024 Standard Protections for Spouses of Medicaid Applicants

Lavelle & Finn


Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) renews the federal guidelines that seek to protect individuals whose spouses are applying for or receiving Medicaid long-term care benefits. These protections, known as the Spousal Impoverishment Standards, help to support the financial well-being of seniors who continue residing at home while their spouse on Medicaid […]

Getting Social Security Checks While Living Overseas

Lavelle & Finn


Many retirees look forward to traveling in their retirement. More and more are actually retiring overseas, in part as a way to stretch savings. But what happens to retirees’ federal benefits while they are out of the country? The short answer is that although Social Security benefits are available to retirees in other countries, Medicare […]