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Undue Hardship and the Medicaid Penalty Period

Lavelle & Finn


If you are planning to apply for Medicaid, you might not realize that you should think twice before transferring any of your assets. If you transfer assets within five years of applying for Medicaid, you could in fact face a penalty period. During this time, you would not be eligible for Medicaid benefits. An exception […]

Survey Highlights High Costs of Long-Term Care in 2023

Lavelle & Finn


You may not foresee ever needing assistance with your day-to-day life. However, research shows that seven in 10 adults aged 65 and older will require long-term care at some point in their later years. Meanwhile, the U.S. population continues to age rapidly. Americans aged 65 or older are on track to total 82 million in the next […]

Good News for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Patients in 2026

Lavelle & Finn


If you need a medical procedure, you may have to hold off on treatment until you have received approval from your health insurance plan. In many cases, Medicare Advantage and other plans have been denying their patients certain services despite doctors’ orders. (In one survey, medical practices reported that 97 percent of their patients faced such […]

Promoting Healthy Aging During Financial Literacy Month

Lavelle & Finn


As April marks Financial Literacy Month, it is an excellent time to start improving your financial literacy. Gaining financial savvy can help you handle the challenges and complexities of aging. Although sometimes overlooked, financial literacy is a critical component of aging well. It promotes economic freedom, helping you afford care and housing as you grow older. […]

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 […]