Category Archives for 2025

The Federal Estate Tax and the Big Beautiful Bill

It is tempting to think that the budget conflicts in Washington today are something new and different from an ongoing dialogue going on for at least twenty-five years and more. The most recent major discussion concerns the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in 2017 during the first Trump administration. The TCJA contained a […]

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Some Timely Recommendations for Persons on Medicaid

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While the country is waiting for results in the United States Senate regarding a current budget proposal referred to variously as a Big Beautiful Bill which could impact large numbers of U.S. Medicaid recipients, current Medicaid recipients may be wondering what actions to take, if any, now regarding their own healthcare. Because we do not […]

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How Health Care Has Changed For Seniors

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Sometimes it helps to remember how systems were first established and how they changed and why to understand where they are now. This could be said off the Medicaid and Medicare systems of healthcare in America and of Social Security. Medicaid especially but also Medicare and Social Security have been critical areas of my legal […]

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Your Rights As a Taxpayer With the IRS

At a time when questions may arise regarding your rights it could be comforting to know that, at least as to the US Internal Revenue Service, there is a clear statement of general rights as an American taxpayer. While at times, especially with short staffing or other problems, some of these may be aspirational, the […]

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CCRC’s What You Need To Know Before Signing

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Continuing Care Retirement Communities in the US have become a staple of everyday living and a common topic of conversation among seniors trying to determine whether they should stay at home or move to an environment specially adapted to provide for their needs as they age. There is no lack of opportunity to learn generally […]

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What Would We Do Without Medicaid?

For the past twenty-five years I have been writing about elder law issues -usually on a weekly basis – many of which relate to health care, health care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and similar programs. Over the years as readers might imagine there have been significant changes – Obamacare, for instance, came into effect […]

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Don’t Update My Software Again – Please

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If you are a techie believer who awaits every new nuance of the myriad software choices available now with the kind of greeting only known to expectant parents you might not understand this column. If you are an elder law attorney relating to clients and other professionals as well as government, court, and private offices […]

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Paul Ryan and the History of Medicaid Block Grant Proposals Business

On January 3, 1999 Paul Ryan was sworn in as Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s 1 st District. Twenty years later, on January 3, 2019 he left office to return to private life. In the intervening time in his public life he served as the 54 th Speaker of the House, […]

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Pennsylvania/Florida Snowbird Issues for Elder Law and Estates Business

Elder Law

If you tried to reach me or my daughter and paralegal, Alisa, last Friday we took some time to attend the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA) Winter Conference at Bedford Springs, Bedford, Pennsylvania. While I attended the many programs updating the rules and laws, Alisa had an opportunity to socialize with the group […]

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Coffee Questions That Consider How We Socialize Today

A recent article in CNN Health, “Viva la coffee shop: Why we need to meet up in them, now!” https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/20/health/recommend-coffee-shops-wellness/index.html (2025) raised the fascinating question whether we are losing something today in our loss of common spaces to meet, discuss, and enjoy each other’s company. Also, of course, it discussed coffee. Frankly, I was amazed […]

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Research Your Health Insurance Options for 2025 Retirement Business Editor/DLN

Among the many issues you are likely to confront when considering a 2025 retirement is whether and when you need to take action regarding health insurance for you and possibly, if you are married, your spouse. Answers are not necessarily simple and your HR Department might not have all of them readily at their disposal. […]

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