Joseph L. Matthews, Expert
Caring.com Expert
Joseph L. Matthews has been an attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1971. From 1975 to 1977 he taught at the School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of numerous books, including Social Security, Medicare, and Government Pensions; Long-Term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It; How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim; and The Lawyer Who Blew up His Desk. The original coauthor of Joseph's book on Social Security and Medicare was his mother, Dorothy, who had worked at senior centers for 25 years. Joseph then assisted her with her own care during the later years of her life, arranging her legal and financial documents and helping her move to home care and assisted living as her needs changed.
Recently Published on Caring.com
-
What your mother can spend her money on under Medicaid rules depends on which Medicaid program she's getting coverage from. Medicaid covers regular medical care but there i...
-
Will Medicaid pay for a home help aid over night? — Jul 01, 2011The straight answer to your question is that Medicaid does NOT provide long-term overnight caregivers. Medicaid budgets are extremely limited and being cut more every year... -
How do we get my mother onto Medicare part D? — Jul 01, 2011The good news is that your mother can sign up for any Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that's offered where she lives. To find out what plans are available, and to be... -
Does Medicare cover a "Soft Tub?" — Jul 01, 2011Unfortunately, Medicare almost certainly would not cover a "soft tub" portable hot tub, even though it provides you with relief from your pain. The reason is that Medicare... -
First, as long as your mother sells her house to your sister, or to anyone else, for fair market value, the sale will not DIRECTLY affect her eligibility for Medicaid nursi... -
The good news is that neither your income nor your assets would count toward your mother's eligibility for long-term care coverage in any state. For Medicaid medical cover... -
While Medicare Part C health plans, also called a Medicare Advantage plans can provide certain cost and coverage benefits, over 80% of people eligible for Medicare use trad... -
There is a way for your parents to transfer title of the house so that your father can sell it without it affecting your mother's Medicaid coverage of her nursing home. Ho... -
When a Medicaid beneficiary dies, the Medicaid program has a right to be repaid, out of the beneficiary's estate, the amount it has paid for nursing home care. In your mot... -
Will I lose my share of my home to Medicaid? — May 30, 2011You are in the same position as a lot of folks, co-owning a home with a parent who receives medical or long-term care from Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California). The sh... -
You're obviously in a very tough situation, but the State of Tennessee has several programs that might be able to help. First, the State of Tennessee participates in the Na... -
What it seems like you're asking about is the eligibility rules for Medicaid coverage of a long-term nursing home stay. Those Medicaid eligibility rules provide long-term ... -
I am currently employed with a company with over 20... — May 25, 2011When Medicare is the secondary payer of medical bills (as in your case, when your large employer provides group health insurance), it "covers" those bills in the same way a... -
Will being on my wife's insurance count as a Medigap policy? — May 25, 2011Let's start with your question about your wife's employer-sponsored group health insurance being the equivalent of a Medigap supplemental health insurance policy. Most empl... -
There are two different parts of Medicaid that your patents might be eligible for, and your parents' home is considered differently by each part of the Medicaid program. F... -
Will selling a mobile home affect Medi-Cal eligibility? — May 14, 2011There are two different sets of Medicaid (Medi-Cal is the name California gives to its Medicaid program) rules that could protect your mother's eligibility for Medi-Cal cov... -
Will money I inherited affect my chance to get Medicare? — May 14, 2011Your inheritance will not affect in any way your right to receive Medicare coverage if you remain eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. The con... -
How a Government Health Insurance Counselor Can Help — May 10, 2011Confused about what kind of benefits your loved one is eligible for? You may benefit from the assistance of a government health insurance counselor. The State Health Insur... -
The good news is that Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid) will not touch your mother's house as long as she is alive. Medicaid rules exempted the house from conside... -
Here are some possible sources of funds to help pay for long-term nursing home care, either the full amount if your loved one doesn't qualify for or use public benefits, or... -
Although health insurance can cover short-term, acute care in a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility, it won't cover your loved one's long-term residence in a nursing... -
If your loved one has very low income and few assets other than the home he or she lives in, the following benefit programs might pay some or all of long-term nursing home ... -
Personal Assets and In-Home Care — May 05, 2011Most families wind up having to tap into their own finances to pay for in-home care. Before you wipe out your own savings, be sure to explore these two options: Reverse mo... -
Low Income -- Paying for Home Care — May 05, 2011If your loved one has very low income and few assets other than the home he or she lives in, the following benefit programs might pay a limited amount for providing in-home... -
Private Insurance and In-Home Care — May 05, 2011Be sure to explore these options to help pay for in-home care. Long-term care insurance If your loved one has a long-term care (LTC) insurance policy, it may cover some ...
