Elder Care Planning

It's a topic no one really wants to discuss. But when the need arises, nothing is more important to you and your loved ones.

Most of us know that help exists, but we don't necessarily know what that really means.

  • How will I be able to afford the health care we need for my spouse and still have something left over for my care in the future?
  • Do we have enough to cover our present or future health care needs?
  • Will Medicare or Medicaid pay? What's the difference between them?
  • Should I have long-term care insurance? If so, which kind is better?
  • Do my parents qualify for assistance programs or do they have too much or earn too much to qualify? If so, is there a way to legally become qualified?

Planning for our own needs or those of a parent or grandparent, when health declines can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be done alone. Through conversations with you and other professionals, such as elder law attorneys and senior care providers, we can help you with the financial strategies you need to help provide the care, and dignity, you and your loved ones deserve.

Medicaid

Medicaid is often confused with Medicare. Medicare provides health coverage if you are 65 and older and made up of several parts that to different degrees cover basic health, hospitalization, and prescription drugs. Medicare does not cover long-term care.

Medicaid is a federal program for severe health and long-term care needs administered by each state. States can have certain eligibility rules that differ from each other as long as they meet minimum federal requirements. Qualifying to meet income and asset limits can sometimes be complex, but when appropriate and with proper assistance, Medicaid can ease what will be one of the most significant financial burdens we will likely face.

Veterans Aid & Attendance

Our veterans are one of our most precious resources. They risk their lives and put their own needs on hold to protect our country and our way of life. When the time comes to give them something back, our government has rightly provided access to benefits in their time of need as they age.

However, sometimes that assistance is not well publicized or the application process can be difficult. Working with the proper professionals, we can help you determine if a little known program for our veterans is right for you or your loved one.

Long-term Care Planning

The best planning is done well in advance and usually involves taking a comprehensive approach. Long-term care planning does not necessarily code for buying insurance. Sometimes insurance is appropriate. However, planning ahead for what could be one of your most expensive costs in retirement should be comprehensive.

We will work with you to provide and implement a plan that takes in to account your available resources and options, including, but not limited to, traditional insurance.

Transferring Wealth to the Next Generation

Most of us want to make sure that we are properly cared for when we can no longer care for ourselves. But most of us also want to make sure that we leave something behind for our children and grandchildren if we can.

Our top priority must always be with the one who needs care now. However, no one willingly wants to ignore the consequences of how we pass down that which we worked so hard to achieve. Poor estate planning can lead to unnecessary taxes, excessive fees and other needless costs, not to mention having assets distributed in a way contrary to what you would otherwise really want.

Whether we are fortunate enough to make plans in advance or if we are working with you and your other advisers through a crisis, transferring what you spent a lifetime earning to your spouse, kids, grandkids, or others remains an important issue we will work with you to address.