Consider Using a Pooled Trust with MassHealth Nursing Home Planning

Posted on April 24, 2014

If a single person wants MassHealth assistance with paying for nursing home care, but has more than the $2,000 in assets that MassHealth will permit her to keep, one option is to transfer the excess assets to a pooled trust. A pooled trust is a trust managed by a non-profit for the benefit of disabled...

Testifying at the State House

Posted on August 5, 2013

Last week, I headed to the State House to once again testify on bills that could plug some holes in the MassHealth nursing home payment system and make things a bit easier for families caring for frail elders. The shorthand for this bill is the "transfer of assets" bill. It comes down to...

Department of Public Health Survey on Health Needs for People with Disabilities

Posted on May 20, 2013

This landed in my inbox. It took about 5 minutes to fill it out. Due date is May 31. Here are the details: Help influence health care in Massachusetts! The Health and Disability Program, part of Office of Health Equity at the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) is conducting a health...

Another Good Reason to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

Posted on November 1, 2012

I talk to a lot of my clients about buying long-term care insurance (LTCI). Many people come to my office asking about "nursing home planning" - how to make sure they don't use up all of their savings if they end up in a nursing home. And my response is always, "Your nursing home...

Good News on Pooled Trusts

Posted on August 9, 2012

When a single person is entering a nursing home, and if she needs MassHealth to assist her with paying for that, then she needs to bring her assets down to $2,000. Elder law attorneys often recommend setting aside a "cushion" in a pooled trust - since $2,000 amounts to bubkes, really. Having a cushion...

Is Your Spouse Moving to a Nursing Home? Are You Scared of Using up Your Savings on the Nursing Home Bill?

Posted on August 8, 2012

When one member of a couple needs nursing home care, and if you are asking MassHealth to assist with the monthly bill, then the healthy spouse at home may keep only $113,640 in liquid assets, in addition to her home. For a younger spouse with many years ahead of her, reducing her liquid assets...

Heard in the Office: “I Don’t Want the Nursing Home to Take My House.”

Posted on August 6, 2012

I hear this a lot. Let’s be clear on the very basics. If you’ve watched friends go to a nursing home and “lose the house,” it’s not the nursing home forcing them to sell. Like all medical providers, nursing homes need to be paid. Your Medicare and supplemental health insurance policy (ex. MediGap) will pay...

Testifying at the State House

Posted on September 7, 2011

Earlier this summer, I made the big trek to Boston, all the way to the State House. (We are so lucky on the South Shore, we get to take a boat to Boston!) Along with some colleagues, I testified on some bills that we have before the legislature. “We” being the

What Goes into a Caregiver Contract?

Posted on September 21, 2009

If as a parent and child, you have agreed that the child will care for her parent in exchange for compensation, you need to work with an elder law attorney to draft a caregiver contract, as discussed in earlier posts. What will your attorney put into the contract? She will list...

Paying Your Children to Care for You? Put it in Writing.

Posted on August 30, 2009

As they need more help with daily tasks, many parents prefer to have their kids helping them rather than hiring an aide. And many children want to be helping their parents, if only they could afford to quit their job. One solution is for the parent to hire the child. I discuss...