ElderLaw News Archive: October, 2004
In this Issue...
- Medicare Premium to Rise Record 17 Percent in 2005
- 10 Facts Funeral Directors Don't Want You to Know
- Court Rules on Whether IRAs May Be Counted by Medicaid
- Protecting the Voting Rights of Nursing Home Residents
Medicare Premium to Rise Record 17 Percent in 2005
The Bush administration has announced that premiums for Medicare Part B, which pays for doctor visits, will go up 17 percent in 2005, the largest premium increase in the program's history. The premium will rise $11.60, from the current $66.60 a month to $78.20 a month.
Administration officials said that this year's spike in the premium is due to a rise in health costs and changes made last year to Medicare. Others contend that Medicare recipients will be paying more every month to help pay bonuses to managed care plans to entice them into covering Medicare patients.
10 Facts Funeral Directors Don't Want You to Know
Funerals are among the most expensive purchases many consumers will ever make. But it's possible to spend less if you don't let funeral directors pressure you into buying goods or services you don't want or need. To help consumers resist such pressure and become more informed, here are "10 facts funeral directors don't want you to know."
Court Rules on Whether IRAs May Be Counted by Medicaid
A federal appeals court has ruled that while states may consider retirement accounts held by the spouses of nursing home residents as resources in determining Medicaid eligibility, such a rule may violate federal law in specific instances.
This is the first federal appeals court ruling on this issue, although it is binding only in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.
Protecting the Voting Rights of Nursing Home Residents
Have you ever considered how nursing home residents get to vote, and what happens to their right to vote if they are demented?
The reality is that nursing home residents have a right to vote, although fewer than half the states have absentee voting procedures that specifically address the voting barriers faced by nursing home residents.
Quick Links
Medicare Adds Drug Price Comparison Tool
Legal Disclaimer
This information has been provided for informational purposes only. It does
not constitute legal advice. The receipt of this information does not establish
an attorney-client privilege. Proper legal advice can only be given upon consideration
of all the relevant facts and laws. Therefore you should not act upon any
of the information contained herein without seeking appropriate legal counsel.
Attorneys Judith Sterling and Michelle Tucker are both CPAs and licensed attorneys. They are the first two attorneys in Hawaii to be certified by the American Bar Association (ABA) accredited Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., as Estate Planning Law Specialists, and are so certified by the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The Supreme Court of Hawaii grants Hawaii certification only to lawyers in good standing who have successfully completed a specialty program accredited by the ABA.
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Haseko Center Serving Maui and the Big Island by appointment 1-(800) 807-3820 |
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