Elder Law Attorney – Florida

As an elder law attorney in Florida, Walser Law Firm has assisted Florida seniors with life and estate planning for over 35 years, with a team of lawyers who can help you plan for your future health and life needs.

Tools for Long-Term Planning

Our attorneys discuss various tools that may be helpful in your long-term plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to pay for your care through:

Your health insurance policy may cover some of the facility’s services or home nursing visits. Review the terms of your health insurance policy carefully. The extra cost of premiums may be worth the additional coverage.

Medicare

This government insurance program pays for skilled nursing care in a licensed facility. Unfortunately, coverage caps out after certain days and requires you to pay out of pocket should you require longer-term nursing home care.

Medicaid

You may qualify for Long-Term Care Medicaid if your financial resources and income exceed the statutory threshold. Walser Law Firm considers how your long-term financial planning can affect access to this vital government benefit.

Effective Jan 1st, 2022, a Medicaid applicant’s gross monthly income may not exceed $2,523.00 (up from $2,382.00). Applicants cannot have more than $2,000 of countable assets. However, the total value of assets an applicant’s well spouse may own has increased. The community spouse resource allowance cap, is now up to $137,400 of countable assets (up from $130,380).

While young and healthy, consider purchasing a long-term care insurance policy covering nursing homes, assisted living, or home health care services. Our lawyers can advise what provisions to consider in a comprehensive long-term care insurance plan.

Trusts

To preserve your financial security and eligibility for Medicaid, you can transfer your assets to a trust. The trust’s property does not count against your income and resources when determining Medicaid eligibility. You can therefore keep the fruits of a lifetime of hard work.

Special Needs Trust

A special needs trust pays for items and services that are not food and housing without jeopardizing eligibility for Medicaid. If you plan to leave a gift to a spouse, child, or other relative with a disability, our attorneys create a special needs trust and advise you about the parameters for using the funds.

Walser Law Firm gives you the information and tools you need to effectively plan for nursing homes, assisted living, and in-home nursing care you may need in the future. Call us at (561) 750-1040 or email our team to schedule a consultation at our Boca Raton office location.

Thomas C. Walser, JD, LLM

Jay L. Kauffman, Esq.

Kenneth B. Wheeler JD, LL.M. Tax