If you have an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”) and you are applying for Medicaid there are certain rules and circumstances which affect your IRA. Your IRA cannot be transferred if you are married. The only way to transfer an IRA between a husband and a wife is to have them enter into a separation agreement or get divorced. If you are in an … [Read more...]
Medicaid In New York – Part I
Medicaid was established in 1965 by an act of Congress. Medicaid is designed to deal with healthcare issues for individuals and families who cannot afford healthcare. Individuals applying for medicaid must meet minimum coverage requirements. These requirements are the individual must be under 21 years of age or over 65 years of age or be eligible … [Read more...]
Long Term Care Issues
As the population of America ages, there is a retirement issue many Americans don’t realize exists. This issue involves long term care. One of the ways of dealing with long term care issues is to purchase long term care insurance. Long Term Care Expenses In the Metropolitan New York area, nursing home expenses run between $10,000 to $12,000 per … [Read more...]
Qualifying for Medicaid
There are specific requirements necessary to qualify for medicaid. These standards deal with the assets a person has and their income. In 2013, the maximum amount of “non-exempt property” a person applying for medicaid could have was $14,550. (This was the standard in New York State.) In addition, there are assets that are considered exempt when … [Read more...]
Running Out of Money in Retirement
Retirement is supposed to be the golden years. However, today the issue of how much money you need in retirement is becoming a much more complex issue. Although it is important to save for retirement, you shouldn't scrimp and deprive yourself for a retirement that may never happen. The big problem is running out of money while you are retired. … [Read more...]
Spousal Refusal And Medicaid Planning
In the States of Connecticut, Florida and New York spousal refusal to pay for a spouse's medical expenses can be an acceptable Medicaid planning technique. The spouse of an individual who goes into a nursing home and applies for Medicaid is referred to as the "community spouse." This spouse can keep approximately $3000 a month of the family's … [Read more...]
Retirement Planning for Single Americans
Who prepares better for retirement, married couples or single individuals? The answer is married couples. More than 85% of married couples have saving plans related to their retirement. This compares with only 67% of single individuals who have established retirement savings programs. Retirement Planning Americans who have worked during the … [Read more...]
Borrowing Against Retirement Accounts
When Americans face financial stress they turn to their retirement accounts for liquid assets. Pensions, 401K plans and 403B plans are where Americans are turning to for quick infusions of cash. In this past year borrowing from retirement accounts hit new highs. It is estimated that more than 15% of all individuals who have money in retirement … [Read more...]
How will Raising the Medicare Age to 67 Affect You?
With the exception of the government, everyone will pay more money for medical insurance and medical benefits if the medicare age is raised to 67. A number of years ago, the Social Security retirement age for individuals born in 1960 or later was raised to 67. At the time they raised the social security age, they left the medicare eligibility age … [Read more...]
Easing Into Retirement
When Is The Right Time to Retire? It’s hard to say when it's right time to retire; however, it is easy to say it is the wrong time to retire. You shouldn’t retire unless you have sufficient funds to carry you through your golden years. In the past, most people retired in their sixties. With declining savings and living costs going up, many … [Read more...]
