How Your Will Can Protect Your Children With Disabilities
August signifies National Make-a-Will Month. For the one in five families who care for children with special needs, estate planning is crucial. Parents of a child with a disability face numerous challenges and concerns. One 2022 study found that getting sick stands among these parents’ biggest worries of what will happen to their children if they get […]
Why Georgia’s New Medicaid Program May Impact You
In June 2023, Georgia announced the implementation of the Pathways to Coverage program, effective July 1, 2023. If successful, it could allow able-bodied adults who have not previously qualified for Medicaid to join the program and have access to health coverage if they meet certain conditions. What Is Medicaid? Medicaid is a public assistance program that […]
Home Health Services Underutilized by Seniors, Study Shows
Health Affairs estimates that 4 million older adults can only leave their homes with assistance, making accessing care challenging. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.3 million Americans receive care in nursing homes. According to A Place For Mom, more than 810,000 reside in assisted living. Home health care presents an alternative to nursing homes […]
What to Do If You Lose Your Medicaid Coverage
During the COVID-19 pandemic, states could not remove Medicaid coverage from any residents enrolled in this program. In recent months, however, this has been changing. If you are on Medicaid, take some time to understand whether your coverage may be at risk. How the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Affected Medicaid Enrollees Enacted in March […]
National Retirement Risk Index: Many to Fall Short of Goals
Nearly half of American households will fall short of their retirement goals, researchers have found. According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College’s National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI), if Americans work until age 65 and annuitize their assets, 47 percent will still be unable to maintain their standard of living. The new […]
The No Surprises Act May Help With Unexpected Medical Bills
The No Surprises Act is a federal law enacted to protect patients from unexpected medical bills incurred on or after January 1, 2022. It aims to address the issue of surprise medical billing, which can occur when patients receive unexpected charges for their medical care. The Act applies to out-of-network emergency services, out-of-network air ambulance services, […]
Supreme Court Preserves Right to Sue Public Nursing Homes
In a major win for nursing home residents and their families, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the right to sue government-run nursing homes under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (FNHRA). In a 7-2 decision, the court decided these plaintiffs could seek relief in federal court. Background of the Case In 2019, the […]
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week: Avoiding Health Care Scams
The week of June 5 marks Medicare Fraud Prevention Week. Seniors and their caregivers should be aware of the risks posed by Medicare scams and how to avoid falling victim to this type of fraud. Each year, Medicare loses tens of billions of dollars to abuse and errors. Older adults who receive Medicare may […]
Federal Law Puts Focus on Preventing Elder Abuse
This is a federal law designed to address the growing problem of elder abuse. The law supports efforts to better understand, prevent, and combat financial and physical elder abuse. The prevalence of elder abuse is hard to calculate because it is underreported, but according to the National Council on Aging, approximately 1 in 10 Americans […]
Detecting and Dealing With Elder Financial Abuse
Older people are vulnerable to financial abuse by a family member, financial professional, or stranger. Understanding the threat of financial exploitation seniors face can help them avoid people who want to steal their money, identity, government benefits, or possessions. What Is Financial Abuse? Financial abuse of an elder can happen when another person or […]
