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Medicaid Planning

Estimate Costs of Health Plans for Florida

By Health, Medicaid Planning, Medicare

The Tampa Bay Times has published an article on September 25, 2013 providing a preview to the rates expected to be published on October 1, 2013 for health insurance under the affordable care act.

A single 27 year old earning $25,000.00 per year can buy a bronze poilicy (the least expensive) for $167.00 per month.  He/she will receive a tax credit due to their low income of $54.00 per month reducing their premium to $113.00 per month.  This tax credit will be paid directly to the insurance provider.

A family of 4 living in Tampa Bay earning $50,000.00 per year can get a silver policy (the second lowest cost plan) for $282.00 per month, after receiving the tax credit.

Coverage offered by these plans are expected to include preventative care and maternity care.

Everyone will be able to research plans in their communities beginning October 1, 2013 at www.healthcare.gov.

For more information on estate planning, Medicaid planning or tax planning, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.

September 30, 2013
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Sarasota is Part of Medicaid Experiment

By Long-Term Care, Medicaid Planning

Thousands of caregivers in Sarasota and Charlotte counties are receiving letters this month from the state, telling them they have 30 days to enroll their loved ones in Florida’s new Medicaid Long-term Care program.

The two counties are part of a sweeping experiment in managed long-term care that begins here on Sept. 1, affecting 5,596 Medicaid recipients in a seven-county area.

The goal: To cut Medicaid costs by gradually diverting more frail Floridians from nursing homes or assisted-living facilities and into home care.

To achieve this, private contractors will take over the state’s work of supervising cases and paying providers.

For the first year, contractors’ bonuses are linked to a modest 2 percent reduction in their share of the nursing home population, who receive 24-hour highly skilled care. The expectation is that these companies can move more Medicaid patients over time to less costly assisted-living facilities — or even back to their own homes, the cheapest option.

Click here to read the whole Herald Tribune article.

July 9, 2013
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Babette B. Bach, Esq. to Speak for the Jewish Foundation of Sarasota-Estate Planning Sarasota

By Estate Planning, Firm News, Medicaid Planning, Medicare

Babette Bach will be the keynote speaker for a seminar March 20, 2013 at the Jewish Foundation in Sarasota. Topics will include estate planning and the basic recommended documents to have in place, Medicare and Medicaid Planning.

Ms. Bach is looking forward to speaking to the members of the community on such an important topic. She appreciates the invite to lecture.

If you need legal advice for estate planning, Medicare, Medicaid planning, or VA planning, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.

March 14, 2013
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Florida Senate Rejects Medicaid Expansion

By Medicaid Planning

A Florida Senate committee voted yesterday, March 11, 2013, against expanding Medicaid to roughly 1 million of the state’s poorest under the federal health overhaul and instead proposed a voucher plan that would require patients to pay premiums and co-pays.

Chairman Senator Joe Negron wants the state to create its own health insurance plan for the expanded Medicaid population and require recipients to pay a sliding scale premium based on their income.  However, he has admitted that this may take years to implement whereas the federal proposal is ready to begin January 1, 2014.

March 10, 2013
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Babette B. Bach, Esq. to speak for the Women’s Club of the Palm Aire Country Club

By Estate Planning, Firm News, Medicaid Planning, Medicare

Babette Bach will be the keynote speaker for a seminar March 15, 2013 at the Palm Aire Country Club in Sarasota. Topics will include estate planning and the basic recommended documents to have in place, Medicare and Medicaid Planning.

Ms. Bach is looking forward to speaking to the members of the woman’s club on such an important topic. She appreciates the invite to lecture.

If you need legal advice for Estate Planning, Medicare, Medicaid planning, or VA planning, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.

March 5, 2013
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Medicare and Medicaid Benefit Program Recipients Wonder how Reform Will Affect Benefits in 2013

By Medicaid Planning, Medicare

The end of the year approaches and uncertainty grows.  Policy leaders in the U.S. have yet to reach an agreement on a policy package which will help the U.S. economy avert the pitfalls associated with the scheduled spending cuts and tax increases.

One side calls for increased tax, another for reduced government spending.  The budget remains deadlocked.  Many Americans want to know how political policy revisions will affect the deficit and supplemental programs.

State and federally funding programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, remain on the table for revisions and recipients are concerned.

Medicare spending totaled $492 billion in 2012 and that total is expected to rise over the next 10 years.  Health care costs continue to skyrocket.  This rise plus incline in lifespan is playing havoc on the deficit.  Both Republicans and Democrats believe that reform is needed.  Measures must be taken to improve Medicaid and Medicare.  Experts believe there is not enough time in 2012 to work out a long tem solution.  Short term deals will be made regarding the end of the year budget with long term plans being reviewed after the New Year.

If you need advice for Medicare or Medicaid planning, estate planning, probate and trust administration or VA benefits, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.

December 9, 2012
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Babette B. Bach, Esq. to Speak at the Institute of Advanced Medicine

By Firm News, Medicaid Planning, Medicare

 Babette Bach will be the keynote speaker for a seminar on November 21, 2012 at the Institute of Advanced Medicine in Sarasota, Florida.  Topics will include Medicare and Medicaid, along with elder law advice on financial matters and asset protection planning.

Ms. Bach is looking forward to speaking to the members of the hospital staff on such important topics.

If you need legal advice for estate planning, Medicare, Medicaid planning, or VA planning, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.

November 16, 2012
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Babette B. Bach, Esq. to Speak for Suncoast Paralegal Association

By Firm News, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Veterans Affairs

 Babette Bach will be the keynote speaker for a seminar on November 12, 2012 at Marina Jacks in Sarasota, Florida for our local Suncoast Paralegal Association.  Topics will include Medicare and Medicaid benefits, along with Veterans Benefits and Estate Planning.

Ms. Bach is looking forward to speaking to the members of the association on such important topics.  She appreciates the invite to lecture to paralegals from all fields of the law.

If you need legal advice for estate planning, Medicare, Medicaid planning, or VA planning, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.

November 6, 2012
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Who can Draft a Qualified Income Trust?

By Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning

Only an attorney is licensed to draft a Qualified Income Trust.Medicaid planning companies are not licensed to draft Qualified Income Trusts, unless they have a Florida licensed attorney on staff who is directly and actively representing the trust Grantor.

If you need legal advice for estate planning, Medicaid planning, or VA planning, please contact our office for an initial consultation at (941) 906-1231.

September 6, 2012
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What is a Qualified Income Trust?

By Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning

If your income exceeds the amount to qualify for Medicaid long term care services, ($2,094.00 per month for 2012) a Qualified Income Trust allows you to become eligible by depositing income into an irrevocable income trust each month that you qualify for Medicaid.The QIT involves a written trust agreement and a separate bank account for making deposits.  The income you deposit into the QIT account is used to pay for the Medicaid recipient’s patient responsibility payments and medical expenses.

If you need legal advice for estate planning, Medicaid planning, or VA planning, please contact our office for an initial consultation at (941) 906-1231.

August 31, 2012
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