What Happens to Medicare When You Travel Overseas
As seniors venture overseas whether for recreation or new living arrangements, a key question to ask is what benefits travel with them. While Social Security benefits follow Americans to other countries, basic Medicare likely will not and seniors may need to be prepared for alternate arrangements. In a recent on-line article from Elder Law Answers […]
Continue readingPennsylvania – It’s Time to Vote -Primary Election Time
About this time of year I tend to put on my hat as a former high school social studies teacher and wade into the fray. One reason might be that I think not enough information is disseminated regarding what is happening and the differences among candidates but another is just plain curiosity. As in so […]
Continue readingIs Age A State of Mind?
Recently, when I took my nine year old miniature Schnauzer, Mario, in to the vet for a routine checkup and follow up on shots I was handed a plastic envelope with a green band filled with printed materials. When I asked what it was I was told my treasured dog had, by reason of his […]
Continue readingWhat Happens Without a Will
Consumers are constantly told by financial planners and others that they must have a Will. So, it would not be unusual to ask “what happens if I do not have a Will.” The answer is, as with so many planning questions, “it depends.” If you have no assets titled in your own name and everything, […]
Continue readingBarbara Bush – A Lesson On Comfort Care
When word was released recently that Barbara Bush, wife of former President George H. W. Bush and mother of former President George W. Bush, was seriously ill and opted for “comfort care,” discussion arose regarding the meaning and uses of comfort care for end of life measures. Barbara Bush was suffering from congestive heart failure […]
Continue readingMedical Bills – New Developments
Years ago I remember sitting with a representative of a hospital billing department trying to determine the meaning of medical bills regarding a family member’s treatment. One aspect that was especially odd was that, for the same treatment, an infusion, the bill to us could be $200 or it could be $2,000. How could there […]
Continue readingPlan Early But Keep Changing the Plan to Age Well
Many of the plans our office handles are what we call “crisis plans.” While crisis planning may seem a contradiction in terms the thought being that, if there had been planning there would not be a crisis, this is not necessarily so. Stuff happens. Plans change. After thinking through a well considered plan for future […]
Continue readingA Social Security Representative Payee -Not the Same As Power of Attorney
If you are caring for an elderly parent who is no longer able to handle his or her finances or you are handling Social Security funds for your minor child who is entitled to benefits because of disability, the death of your spouse, or your reaching full retirement age or otherwise becoming eligible for Social […]
Continue readingAdvice on Loans From Parents and Grandparents
If you have saved over the years and even if you have only a few thousand in the bank above your living expenses, you might at some point be approached by an adult child or college aged grandchild for a loan or, what sometimes might be even more dangerous, cosigning on a loan or credit […]
Continue readingTurning 65? -What To Know About Social Security and Medicare
Retirement used to be simpler. At age 65 you would generally start collecting Social Security and also begin to be insured under Medicare. It was the frequently accepted retirement date from your job and, with your gold watch and farewell party, everything was set. Today Boomers might decide to begin collecting Social Security at 62 […]
Continue readingBusiness You Need To Know When a Family Member Dies
When you are dealing with illness and grief the chances are that you may not be able to pull together what to do when your husband, wife, parent or sibling dies. You might look for a Will or the location of bank accounts but decisions likely pass in a blur. This column is to help […]
Continue readingWhy We Make Wrong Long Term Care Decisions
Long term care can be confusing and frightening. It can help to know why and when some commonly held ideas are wrong and when to go for more information. Here are some misconceptions that need correction and redirection. I can stay home no matter how sick I am and people will come in. It will […]
Continue readingShould You Move Or Stay? – Questions to Consider
As we welcome the New Year, you might be thinking it is time to ditch the old house and move on for 2018. If you lived in your home for a long time and raised your children there you might consider the upkeep now of a larger property to be too much. On the other […]
Continue readingCreative Ways to Gift to Children and Spouses
Christmas holiday time is one when most of us think of gift giving. There are ways, longer range, to consider gifts to family and friends. Most clients know when planning their Wills who they want to name as their primary or most important beneficiary. They do struggle, though, sometimes for years, as to how to […]
Continue readingTax Reform – How It Would Affect You
As year 2017 comes to a close either the U.S. Congress will pass tax reform or it will not. The conclusion at the time of this writing is yet unknown. Congressional Republicans expect to act by Christmas and, if the proposed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act does not pass before the end of the year, […]
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