Q. In your latest article, you discuss how elder care lawyers help seniors with planning in advance for the financial and health concerns that occur as we age. I really appreciate the assistance and advice your elder law firm provides. I am a retired federal employee who will be 65 next year. I was wondering […]
What the PACT Act Means for Veterans
Q. My husband is a veteran who was exposed to toxins while he was in service, and we believe that might have been what contributed to him developing significant health problems as he has gotten older. I remember hearing of legislation that was in progress to help deliver more timely benefits and services to all […]
David Hanson’s “Grace” May Be the Answer to Shortage of Senior Health Aides
Ever turn on the TV, scan Facebook, or check out viral news stories online and see Sophia, an extremely life-like humanoid robot? Well, if you haven’t seen her, Sophia is a robot that is designed to look very human that has gotten lots of attention during the pandemic for her ability to help people who […]
Can Health Insurance Companies or Life Insurance Companies Charge the Unvaccinated Higher Premiums?
Dear Angel, I was listening to NPR recently. They mentioned that the current COVID-19 wave in the U.S. is mostly affecting unvaccinated Americans, who comprise more than 95% of current cases of hospitalization and death. I also heard that the average cost of a COVID-19 hospitalization in 2020 cost more than $42K per patient. Will […]
New Law Vastly Improves Transparency in Doctor-Caregiver Communication
Q. I regularly accompany my wife, Liz, to her neurology and primary care appointments for her dementia care. Doctors, nurses, and medical assistants often rush in and out, rarely spending time or making eye contact with us. Instead, they stare at their computer screens, even before they sit down. What could be so interesting on […]
Boo! Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2020 (A Very Scary Year!)
2020 has been a scary year! Since we’re so close to Halloween, it’s a perfect time to catch up on some of the scariest elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning articles until now. Exposing everything from dementia at 30 to coronavirus patients being moved to nursing homes, our subject matter can get pretty […]
What Can I Do to Help the DC Area First Responders and Healthcare Workers?
Q. My mother, Anna, is in a local nursing home and receives exemplary care from the nurses, doctors, and health aides there. I want to do something to give back to them and to others on the frontline in the DC Metro Area who are risking their lives to help others during the coronavirus pandemic. […]
Groundbreaking Decision Made on Observation Status Appeals
Q. My mother, Ellen, spent a week in the hospital and ended up having surgery. She was seen by doctors and nurses, given several tests, had the surgery, and then got sent to a nursing home for two weeks of rehabilitation. She is certain that she was “inpatient” and then later switched to “observation status.” […]
When Healthcare is Not Accessible
Q. I grew up in Northern Virginia and still live here with my wife and two children. Five years ago, my parents sold their home and moved to a more rural part of the state to get away from the traffic and congestion. My mother passed away since then and my father developed an illness […]
Surprise Medical Bills May Become a Thing of the Past
Freya (80) had chest pains, a hacking cough, and a high fever when she was visiting her son, Andy. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to a hospital in her health plan’s network. As she headed home after a week’s stay to continue her recovery, she took a measure of comfort that her […]
Open Enrollment 2020: How Veterans Can Best Maximize Their Benefits
Dear Rune, I am a veteran who wants to add Medicare Advantage benefits during open enrollment this year. I have a few questions about my veterans benefits and Medicare plans, and I’m hoping you can help. First, can Medicare Advantage and VA benefits work together? Also, are there any specific Medicare Advantage plans for veterans? […]
What Older Voters are Focusing on in the Midterm Elections
Q. I’ve been voting since I was able to do so, which is more decades ago than I’d like to mention. After all, voting is a responsibility! I know that seniors like me care about a broad range of issues, not just those commonly associated with aging. Can you run through some of the issues […]
How Will the New Tax Law Affect Healthcare?
Hi Bebe, I recently read your article about the new tax law. It didn’t talk much about healthcare. Do you know how the tax overhaul will affect healthcare? Thanks for your help, Heath Kerr — Dear Heath, The new tax law will actually be the most important health care legislation enacted since the Affordable Care […]
Aging On-Demand: Options for Seniors and Caregivers
Jan lives in the same townhouse complex as her mother, Sarah. Jan works in D.C. part-time, and visits her mother every evening, bringing her dinner and helping wherever she needs assistance. Jan is fortunate to have the flexibility to work at home a couple times a week, so she can drive her mom to appointments. […]
ACA is Here to Stay – Is That Good for Seniors?
Photo Source: Irish Times Q. I heard that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is here to stay, as of yesterday when the Supreme Court ruled to save the health care law. Is the ruling good for seniors? Also, can you clarify whether seniors on Medicare are or are not affected by the ACA? A. Yesterday, […]
NASA SmartWatch, Implanted Health Devices, and Other New Technology for Seniors
Is Grandpa going gadget-crazy? Not quite yet, but we are getting there. According to a recent Pew Research survey, the number of older adults using the internet and related tech devices is increasing, with 59% of seniors reporting that they go online and 77% of older adults reporting that they have a cell phone. The Pew Research […]