Paying for nursing-home and long-term care can seem daunting when the cost can be $5,000 to $12,000 per month – or more. When a married couple is no longer able or willing to privately pay out of pocket for care and chooses...more
Do you prefer face-to-face meetings? Do you struggle getting through a phone tree or finding what you need online? Many of our clients receive Social Security Retirement benefits, Social Security Disability benefits, and...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently released key Medicare figures for 2022 that will affect all elderly and disabled individuals who receive program benefits. This notice summarizes the changes...more
Today, the Social Security Administration announced in a press release that approximately 70 million Americans who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive a cost-of-living adjustment...more
On Friday August 6, 2021, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers took action on six Senate bills. One of these bills, Senate Bill 17, now 2021 Wisconsin Act 76, addressed five key issues...more
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recently announced the “minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance” (“MMMNA”) will be increased from $2,873.34 to $2,903.34 starting on July 1, 2021. As part of laws designed to...more
In this month's Medicaid Minute, Elder Law Attorney Jessica Merkel answers the question of what to do if you or a loved one received a notice from Medicaid stating your monthly cost of care may rise in February. ...more
My name is Attorney Jessica Merkel. As we shared earlier this month, October is Special Needs Law Month. Since this is part two of our two-part series, we wanted to recap that in our first part we shared with you some...more
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) recently released key figures for 2021 that will affect all elderly and disabled individuals who receive program benefits, including social security retirement benefits, social...more
Every year before July 1st, Wisconsin publishes an updated Medicaid divisor to be in effect starting on July 1st of that year until June 30th of the next year. This year, Wisconsin has not yet updated its Medicaid divisor due...more
Donna’s husband Phil is in a nursing home and receives Medicaid benefits to pay for his care (a.k.a. Medical Assistance or Title-19). Donna wants to make sure Phil’s Medicaid remains in place and is protected, so she wants to...more
As we reflect on the close of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, we wanted to share some information on this important issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines elder abuse as an intentional act, or...more
In Wisconsin, we are soon to reach 25,000 positive COVID-19 test results, over 3,200 hospitalizations, and close to 750 deaths attributed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. It is being recognized that the...more
6/23/2020
/ AARP ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Elder Care ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Long-Term Care ,
Nursing Homes
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recently announced the “minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance” (“MMMNA”) has been increased from $2,818.34 to $2,873.34 starting July 1, 2020. As part of laws designed to...more
As we are coming to the end of Elder Law Month (as named by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys), one of our many roles as elder law attorneys is to keep you apprised of important topics in the world of elder law. As...more
Maybe you were informed ahead of time or maybe you found out when you were first called upon to act. In any event, someone (a parent, a sibling, a friend, a neighbor) named you as their agent or attorney-in-fact under a...more
When people ask me what they can do to make things easier for their loved ones if something happens to them, the first question I ask is if they have power of attorney documents in place. A good financial power of attorney...more
Leaving an inheritance to a loved one with special needs who is or will be receiving government benefits (SSI, medical assistance, long term care services) is tricky and can have unintended negative consequences if not done...more
Did you know that Medicaid is the largest source of funding for nursing home care? Medicaid, often called Medical Assistance or Title 19, has many rules that are confusing, and thus a mystery to many people. Even more of a...more