Articles About Senior Money Legal

1. How Medicare Works

   Article - How does Medicare work? What is Medicare? Who qualifies for Medicare? What does Medicare cover?

2. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): How It Works

   Article - How Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Works. Who's eligible for Medicare Part A and what hospital care is covered by Medicare Part A?

3. 8 Preventive Screenings Medicare Will Cover

   Article - Medicare covers a considerable amount of preventive medicine, and beginning in 2011 it will cover even more. Medicare Part B covers a number of important screening tests -- as of January 1, 2011, paying 100 percent of the cost -- if the person you're caring for meets certain conditions...

4. How to Hire Urgently Needed In-Home Care

   Article - When someone needs help at home, the ideal solution may be to hire an in-home caregiver. Follow these steps to find a good caregiver who can start right away.

5. Estate Planning 101

   Article - Estate planning involves managing money and property during life and passing it to survivors after death. Know what the basic estate planning documents can do.

6. Public Pay Options for Stroke Care: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

   Article - Health Maintenance Organizations are prepaid health insurance plans that give complete medical coverage for a fixed premium. Knowing whether an HMO is right for the person in your care requires careful study.

7. Medicaid Coverage of Nursing Home Care

   Article - Medicaid rules for coverage of nursing home care are complex and vary from state to state. Know the basics of Medicaid coverage of nursing home care.

8. Home Health Care Explained: What It Is, What to Expect, How to Pay For it & How to Find It

   Article - Home health care agencies provide in-home skilled nursing and other home health care services, such as physical and occupational therapy. Home health care agencies are licensed by the state, but must adhere to federal regulations as well.

9. Homecare Explained: What It Is, What to Expect, How to Pay For it & How to Find It

   Article - Homecare, also known as in-home care, is nonmedical care provided in the client's home. It includes custodial care and assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing and providing medication reminders. Homecare workers are professionally trained caregivers who provide companionship...

10. Medicaid Explained

    Article - Alternatives to Medicaid are available in some states. Click here for more information.

11. Adult Day Care Explained: What It Is, What to Expect & How to Pay for It

    Article - Adult day care provides a safe and caring setting for adults within a social model program. Programs are structured and designed, often through the development of a personal care plan, to cover the daily individual needs of each participant, including a variety of social and supportive services...

12. Assisted Living Explained: What They Are, What to Expect, How to Pay For One & How to Find an Assisted Living Facility

    Article - Assisted living is a general term used to describe residential facilities that provide care for individuals who cannot live independently, but do not require twenty-four hour skilled nursing care. With so many choices, however, many adult children face dilemmas when it comes time to find assisted living facilities for Mom or Dad...

13. Medicaid Eligibility

    Article - Medicaid is a federally aided, state-operated program that provides medical care for certain low-income individuals and families who have limited resources. Medicaid eligibility is not tied to Social Security benefits; however, if an individual is receiving social security benefits, a part of those funds will go toward your medical expenses...

14. V.A. Medical Benefits

    Article - Most veterans are eligible for V.A. medical benefits -- with some restrictions. Learn who's eligible, what benefits are provided, and how to apply.

15. How to Use Private Insurance to Help Pay for Home Healthcare

    Article - Private health insurance may help cover home healthcare for your loved one. Consider two ways insurance might pay for home healthcare.

16. Exploring Options for Home Healthcare

    Article - Home healthcare costs add up fast, and some insurance and other programs won't cover them. Consider other options for paying for home healthcare.

17. How to Use Public Benefit Programs to Help Pay for Adult Daycare

    Article - To help pay for adult daycare for someone with limited income, learn about the variety of public benefit programs that help cover adult daycare.

18. How to Pay for Adult Daycare

    Article - Adult daycare can be a boon to older adults and their caregivers alike. Learn about different options for paying for adult daycare.

19. How to Use Private Insurance to Help Pay for In-Home Care

    Article - To help pay for in-home care, investigate whether your loved one has long-term care insurance or a life insurance policy that can be cashed in.

20. How Medicaid Works

    Article - Learn about Medicaid care, Medicaid eligibility requirements and Medicaid coverage. Find out if Medicaid care is a good option for elderly loved ones.

21. What to Expect from a Trusts and Estates Attorney

    Article - A trust and estates attorney deals with a range of legal issues, including the drafting of wills, varying types of trusts, tax and estate planning. Find out the typical things to expect when dealing with one.

22. Medicare Coverage of Home Care

    Article - Learn about Medicare coverage for care, including home care and skilled nursing care, and how Medicare coverage can help your elderly loved ones at Caring.com.

23. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): How It Works

    Article - Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) Medicare Part B is intended to cover doctor bills and outpatient costs. But what does it really cover?

24. Revocable Living Trusts: A Beginner's Guide

    Article - Revocable living trusts: A beginner's guide. A revocable living trust is one of the most important documents for families to have in their estate plan.

25. Probate: What It Is -- and How to Avoid It

    Article - Find helpful probate information, explanation of wills and inheritance, and other helpful elder law resources.

26. How to Get Paid for Being a Family Caregiver

    Article - You could get paid for being a caregiver if your family member is on Medicaid. See if you can get paid for being a caregiver by Medicaid or insurance.

27. SSI: Low-Income Older Adults May Qualify for Supplemental Security Income

    Article - If you're caring for someone who's 65 or older, or someone of any age who's blind or disabled, who has very low income and few assets, she may be eligible for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), a monthly government cash benefit. This is true even if she owns her home.

28. You're Turning 65: A Must-Do Checklist

    Article - Eight steps to take at age 65 to safeguard your long-term financial and healthcare security. You're Turning 65: A Must-Do Checklist

29. 10 Things to Consider Including in a Will

    Article - Wills are generally the centerpiece of an estate plan, allowing people to direct how their property should be divided and who should get it after they die.

30. 5 Common Funeral Traps and How to Avoid Them

    Article - It's all too easy to pay for expensive and unnecessary funeral goods and services. Learn the five most common funeral traps and how to avoid them.

31. V.A. Nursing Home and Other Long-Term Care Benefits

    Article - Various nursing home and other long-term care programs are available to veterans through the V.A. Learn about V.A. long-term care and how to apply.

32. How Family Caregivers Will Benefit From Health Care Reform

    Article - The new health reform law contains lots of changes that help family caregivers. Learn the new provisions that may help you and your loved ones.

33. Open Enrollment: How to Switch Your Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plan for 2012

    Article - Open enrollment periods for Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans let you renew or change plans. When to change, and what to look for in a new plan.

34. Open Enrollment: How to Switch Your Medicare Drug Coverage Plan (Part D) for 2012

    Article - Annual open enrollment periods for Medicare Part D plans let you sign up or switch plans. How and why to switch, and what to look for in a new plan.

35. 9 Government Benefits You Might Be Missing Out On

    Article - Free or inexpensive services can make all the difference to a budget. Here, nine cost-cutting benefits for situations from healthcare to yard work.

36. How to Use Supplemental Sources to Help Pay for Adult Daycare

    Article - Adult daycare can be a big benefit -- but hard to fit into the budget. Explore the range of supplemental sources that can help pay for adult daycare.

37. The 5-Sentence Secret to Slashing Your Cable Bill

    Article - Everyone wants to keep unnecessary cable costs down. When you call your cable company, know the five sentences to use to slash your cable bill.

38. 10 Biggest Retirement Mistakes -- and How to Fix Them

    Article - Surprising numbers of people don't plan well for retirement, even those who try. Learn the 10 biggest retirement mistakes, and how to fix them.

39. 8 Warning Signs an Older Adult's Finances Are Off Track

    Article - What are warning signs that parents are losing control of their finances? One sign that they're losing control of their finances is mail piling up.

40. How Do Reverse Mortgages Work?

    Article - Reverse Mortgage: A Beginner's Guide. A free informative guide on reverse mortgages.

41. 10 Essential Documents to Bring to the Oncologist's Office

    Article - Be prepared: The ten crucial pieces of Information you need to have when you visit a cancer doctor.

42. How to Protect Older Family Members From Fraud

    Article - Common financial scams that target the elderly -- and how you can help your family avoid them.

43. What Is Long-term Care Insurance?

    Article - Long Term Care Insurance is one of the best ways to minimize expenses as you care for an aging parent or other family member.

44. Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) Plans: How They Work

    Article - Read our Medicare Part C plans article and find helpful Medicare Part C information at Caring.com.

45. What Is Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plan)?

    Article - Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans): Who's eligible for Medicare Part D coverage and how much Part D drug plans cost

46. What Is an Advance Health Care Directive (or Living Will)?

    Article - A living will or advance health care directive lets medical providers know a person's preferences when they're unable to do so independently.

47. Advance Health Care Directives and Living Wills: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Article - How to set up a living will or health care directive. How to figure out what the person in your care wants and make sure it's reflected in the documents.

48. What Is Power of Attorney for Finances?

    Article - Power of attorney designates who handles financial affairs when someone is incapacitated. This article covers the basics of power of attorney.

49. Power of Attorney for Finances: A Step-By-Step Guide

    Article - This guide shows you how to set up a power of attorney, one step at a time.

50. Enrolling in Medicare Programs

    Article - A concise guide to how and when to enroll in Medicare based on someone's particular circumstances.

51. Saving Money on Prescription Drugs Not Covered by a Medicare Part D Plan

    Article - Information to help you save money on prescription drugs when someone is in the doughnut hole or just not enrolled in Medicare Part D.

52. How to Choose a Medigap Insurance Policy

    Article - Everything you need to know to choose a Medigap insurance policy.

53. Choosing Hospice Under Medicare

    Article - What is hospice? Hospice is an alternative to regular medical care for people in the final months of life. Instead of continuing to try curing or delaying the fatal disease or condition, hospice ends treatment altogether. Instead, its goal is to control pain and other symptoms and make the patient's last stretch of life as comfortable as possible...

54. Who's Eligible for a Medigap Insurance Policy?

    Article - A medigap insurance policy covers many medical costs that Medicare insurance may not pay for. If you're near or already age 65, you probably know that Medicare ends up paying for only about half of all medical costs. Part of this slack is taken up by Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, which pay some of the high cost of medicines...

55. How Does a Generation-Skipping Trust Work?

    Article - A generation-skipping trust allows assets to grow or be transferred tax-free. Learn the ins and outs of how a generation-skipping trust works.

56. Medicare Coverage for Mental Health and Alzheimer's Care

    Article - Read our mental health coverage article and find helpful mental health coverage information at Caring.com.

57. How an Adult Guardianship, or Conservatorship, Works

    Article - When and how to appoint a conservator, or adult guardian, for an older adult if she can't make important health and financial decisions for herself.

58. How to Prepare a Home Care Agreement With a Family Member

    Article - If a family member pays you for the in-home care you provide, it's wise to prepare a simple written agreement detailing your care-giving arrangement.

59. 8 Things to Know About Power of Attorney for Finances

    Article - Learn the 8 most important things concerning financial power of attorney, and what financial power of attorney involves.

60. Using the Older Americans Act and Social Services Block Grant to Cover Alzheimer's Care Expenses

    Article - Don't forget to investigate services provided for in the Older Americans Act. You may find services for loved ones with Alzheimer's.

61. Paying for the Care of Someone With Alzheimer's

    Article - How to plan for the financial resources your family will need to pay for care through the stages of Alzheimer's.

62. How to Pay for Equipment and Supplies

    Article - If you need assistance in paying for medical equipment:

63. Things to Do Before Selecting an Agency

    Article - Interview several agencies. Get references and CHECK THEM. Make a list of services you want and ask the agency what it will cost. Ask what the steps are in the care planning and management process and how long each will take. Find out how and when you can contact the care manager...

64. Which Social Security Benefits Are You Eligible For?

    Article - Know the Social Security retirement benefits a senior is eligible for, when those benefits kick in, and what benefits will come to his or her spouse.

65. Who Qualifies for Veterans Medical Benefits

    Article - Who qualifies for veterans medical benefits? Our primer describes who qualifies for veterans medical benefits and how to help a veteran apply.

66. Veterans Benefits: Financial Help for Veterans and Their Survivors

    Article - Veterans benefits can ease a senior or disabled person's finances. To help a veteran apply, consider these qualifications for veterans benefits.

67. Medicare and Veterans Medical Benefits: Which One Can I Use?

    Article - How to determine whether to use your Veterans medical benefits or Medicare to pay for medical bills, prescription drugs, and other medical services.

68. How Can I Get Access to a Family Member's Health Records?

    Article - HIPAA rules cover when you can get medical information about an older adult one, with or without permission or when the person one is incapacitated.

69. What Is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order, and How Does It Work?

    Article - When someone nears the end of life -- from either a specific terminal illness or overall decline -- there may be some difficult decisions to make regarding medical interventions. One of these decisions is whether the person wants to be revived, through the administering of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), if she stops breathing or her heart stops beating...

70. How to Get Medicare to Cover a Regular Physical Exam

    Article - How to get Medicare coverage for a regular physical exam -- without breaking Medicare rules.

71. 8 Points to Consider When Choosing a Medicare Managed Care Plan

    Article - Medicare doesn't come in only one flavor. There's traditional Medicare Part A and Part B, supplemented by a medigap private insurance policy. But there are also Medicare Part C managed care plans, called Medicare Advantage, which blend the other types of coverage into one...

72. 7 Things to Look for When Choosing a Financial Planner for Your Parents

    Article - Choosing a financial planner is important. Here are 7 things to look for when searching for a smart financial planner.

73. 5 Most Important Financial Questions to Ask Your Parent

    Article - You won't know what kind of shape your parent's finances are in until you ask. Money is always a sticky topic, so come to the discussion prepared to cover the most important issue.

74. How to Choose a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan

    Article - Choosing a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan isn't easy. Use this guide to help find the Medicare Part D plan that works best for you.

75. So Your Parent Wants to Move In With You -- Can You Afford It?

    Article - Recently I heard from Sarah, an old friend, about a hard situation she's in that I'm sure many Caring.com readers can relate to. Sarah's mother-in-law moved in with her and her family more than a year ago, and since then Sarah's had a really hard time dealing with her husband's siblings, who aren't helping out as much as they promised...

76. Medicare Coverage of Nursing Home Care

    Article - Medicare covers nursing home care -- with restrictions. Avoid confusion over long-term care by understanding Medicare coverage of nursing home care.

77. How Financial Pros Save Money on Health Insurance

    Article - The high cost of health insurance is a critical problem for countless Americans. Learn 12 ways to save money on your health insurance costs.

78. Help! Dad's Caregiver Is After His Money -- But He Thinks It's True Love

    Article - Elders can become overly involved, emotionally and financially, with caregivers. What to do if your parent is too attached -- and getting scammed.

79. Caring Checklist: What to Do When Someone Dies

    Article - Use this checklist to keep track of the practical steps to take -- from notifying family to planning a memorial service -- after a loved one dies.

80. How to Find Free Transportation Services

    Article - Options for free transportation for those in need exist in most communities. Learn where to look for free transportation services in your community.

81. How to Find Low-Cost Transportation Services

    Article - Low-cost transportation services exist in most communities to help older adults who no longer drive. How to find these services, and what they offer.

82. How to Find Medium-Priced to Expensive Transportation Services

    Article - For older adults needing transport and flexibility, taxis and private-car services are useful options, though not inexpensive. Here's what to know.

83. How to Find Transportation Services for Every Budget

    Article - Losing the ability to drive is difficult and limiting for seniors. Find out about alternate transportation options for older adults who don't drive.

84. Caring Checklist: What to Ask When You Call a Transport Service

    Article - When choosing a transportation service, you need to know details, from basic costs to help for special needs. Keep track with this checklist.

85. Caring Checklist: What to Ask When You Call a Taxi or Car Service

    Article - When choosing a taxi or car service, you need to know details, from basic costs to help for special needs. Keep track with this checklist.

86. Caring Checklist: What to Ask When You Call a Mass Transit Service

    Article - When choosing a mass transportation service, you need to know details, from basic costs to help for special needs. Keep track with this checklist.

87. Caring Checklist: What to Ask When You Call a Paratransit Service

    Article - When choosing a paratransit service, you need to know details, from basic costs to help for special needs. Keep track with this checklist.

88. How to Use Public Benefits to Help Pay for Home Healthcare

    Article - Home healthcare costs add up quickly, so it pays to look into public benefits such as Medicare or other programs that can help cover home care costs.

89. How to Pay for Home HealthCare

    Article - Costs for home healthcare vary widely. Learn more about some options to pay for home healthcare that's not covered by insurance or other programs.

90. How to Use Public Benefits to Help Pay for In-Home Care

    Article - To help pay for in-home care, find out whether your loved one qualifies for public benefits such as Medicaid, VA assistance, or other programs.

91. How to Pay for Long-Term Nursing Home Care

    Article - Possible ways to help offset the cost of a nursing home include public benefits, private insurance, and personal assets and family contributions.

92. 3 Ways to Handle Someone With Dementia Who Can No Longer Manage Finances

    Article - Longtime money managers often lose the ability to handle finances in mild dementia. How to handle someone who can no longer manage finances alone.

93. 5 Common Money Mistakes in Mild-Stage Dementia

    Article - Difficulty handling money can strike early in mild dementia, making it a common signal that cognitive problems exist. Make finances easier and safer.

94. 5 Money Problems That Can Foreshadow Dementia

    Article - One of the earliest, most reliable signs of Alzheimer's or another dementia is trouble handling money. Watch for these tell-tale financial mistakes.

95. Who Pays for What?

    Article - Figuring out household finances can become a real sore point for family caregivers. After all, having someone living in your home raises the cost of basics, like food and utilities. And if multiple family members help care for a loved one, it can be challenging to track who paid for what...