Articles for Seniors
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. […]
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 Unfortunately, some Medicare beneficiaries still find that their claims get denied under improper or outdated standards of review.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 […]
How New Yorkers Can Take Advantage of the New 2018 Estate and Gift Tax Exemption Increases
March 9th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
While many Federal lawmakers wished to eliminate estate and gift taxes entirely, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did not do so. Instead, legislators compromised on a temporary increase in the exemption amounts for these taxes. This increase could benefit certain age groups that are in the process of estate planning. There has also […]
New Federal Advisement May Affect the Safety of New York Assisted Living Residents
February 23rd, 2018 by David Goldfarb
During his first year in office, President Donald Trump has worked to reduce as many federal regulations as he can. There are pros and cons to any federal regulation. Opponents and supporters will continue to debate the prudence of these measures, but in the meantime, real lives are affected by the removal of safety protections. […]
Some Medicaid Recipients May Have to Apply for Medicare in Order to Be Eligible
February 9th, 2018 by David Goldfarb
For many New Yorkers, Medicaid benefits are a vital part of their overall health care plan. Maintaining these benefits are a crucial step toward ensuring they and their families receive needed medical care. However, some Medicaid recipients must first apply for Medicare as a condition of their eligibility for Medicaid. The experienced New York elder […]
