The Medicaid look-back period is a 60-month timeframe during which asset transfers are reviewed to determine eligibility for benefits. Improper transfers may result in penalties, delaying coverage.

Transferring assets to qualify for Medicaid can make you ineligible for benefits for a period of time. Before making any transfers, you need to be aware of the consequences.

In recent years, nursing homes have increasingly asked — or forced — patients and their families to sign arbitration agreements prior to admission. By signing these agreements, patients or family members give up their right to sue if they believe the nursing home was responsible for injuries or the patient’s death.

The phrase “life estate” often comes up in discussions of estate and Medicaid planning, but what exactly does it mean?

It turns out that some Medicare-age people are having important decisions about Medicare made for them, often without their knowledge.

While it is illegal for a nursing home to discriminate against a Medicaid recipient, it still happens. To prevent such discrimination, nursing home residents and their families need to know their rights.

In recent years a number of non-lawyers have started businesses offering Medicaid planning services to seniors. While using one of these services may be cheaper than hiring a lawyer, the overall costs may be far greater.

Assisted living facilities are a housing option for people who can still live independently but who need some assistance. Costs can range from $2,000 to more than $6,000 a month, depending on location. Medicare won’t pay for this type of care, but Medicaid might. Almost all state Medicaid programs will cover at least some assisted living costs for eligible residents.

There is a new CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) reporting requirement, Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid & SCHIP Extension Act (MMSEA), 42 USCS §1395(y)(b)(8), effective July 1, 2009 that we need to be prepared to advise litigation firms and the court when serving as Guardian Ad Litem.