June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month
June 18th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
As many as five million cases of elder abuse are reported to the authorities each year. Unfortunately, most cases of elder abuse probably go unreported. Because June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, we here at Goldfarb Abrandt Salzman and Kutzin, LLP, would like to take this opportunity to call attention to this important topic. The […]
New Medicare Cards Are On the Way
May 25th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
To reduce fraud, the federal government began issuing new Medicare cards to beneficiaries. In 2014, the government counted about 2.6 million instances of identity fraud, a 20 percent increase from 2012. The government found that many seniors were easy prey for scammers who stole their Social Security numbers and committed identity theft. Some opened financial […]
Five FIDA Plans Closed in Early 2018
May 18th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Choosing healthcare as a senior requires taking a series of complicated actions, especially for those who are “dual eligible”—that is, eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. You must sign up for Medicare or Medicare Advantage, find a prescription drug plan, and if you need long-term care services, enroll in a managed long-term care (MLTC) plan. […]
Governor Signs Pooled Trust Notification Bill into Law
May 11th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Medicaid provides healthcare for millions of New Yorkers, and constitutes one of the state’s most important benefits programs. However, the government also means tests Medicaid, so it has a spenddown for people who earn too much income and may exclude people who own too many assets. Many seniors find that they have trouble maintaining eligibility […]
New Appeals Process for MLTC Members Goes into Effect May 1, 2018
May 4th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Starting May 1, managed long-term care (MLTC) members must follow new appeals procedures. While the Obama Administration adopted these procedures, they have only now gone into effect. MLTC members should pay close attention to the changes so that they preserve their appellate rights. The Old Rule Before May 1, MLTC members had appeal options whenever […]
New York Medicaid Recipients Who Had Coverage Terminated on March 6, 2018, May Qualify for Restored Coverage
April 27th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Previously, we had advised that Medicaid applicants or recipients must apply for Medicare if they are ages 64 and nine months, and have income at or below 120 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (or income at or below set state requirements for Medicaid eligibility). Between November 2017 and February 2018, about 30,000 New York […]
How New York Senior Citizens Can Use Medicare to Pay for Hospice
April 20th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
When families face difficult end-of-life decisions, costs are often the last thing they want to worry about. Unfortunately, costs present a real problem and often determine how people will spend their final days. New York’s Medicare recipients must understand the coverage available to them for hospice care and other end-of-life services. These coverages can make […]
Common Medicare Mistakes and How an Experienced New York Elder Law Attorney Can Help Protect You
April 13th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Medicare involves a complicated legal structure of federal statutes and regulations. Beneficiaries can find eligibility, coverage, and appeals decisions difficult to initiate, or even understand. Medicare recipients, however, must understand the coverages to which they are legally entitled. Costly Medicare mistakes can financially devastate Medicare recipients on fixed incomes. Here, the experienced elder law attorneys […]
How Changing Outpatient Therapy Caps Will Affect New York Medicare Beneficiaries
April 6th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Recent changes to the law have extended outpatient therapy and home health care coverage for Medicare recipients. Unfortunately, some Medicare beneficiaries still find that their claims get denied under improper or outdated standards of review. An experienced attorney can help recipients determine what services they are eligible for, and advise them how to appeal improper […]
Long-Term Care Costs Are Surging, and New Yorkers Must Prepare for Them
March 23rd, 2018 by David Goldfarb
Financial planning for retirement is a complicated task. It requires anticipating living expenses for an indefinite amount of time. This daunting task is often met by a combination of resources. For adequate financial preparation, a retiree must often have health insurance coverage through Medicare, private insurer and possibly Medicaid. Retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans […]
