By Carol Gentry 05/12/11 C Health News Florida Until now, Florida’s plans to transfer Medicaid patients into managed care have focused on children and families, not the sick and frail elderly who need constant care. The assumption was that HMOs’ complicated rules would trip up weak, confused elders. But that thinking has changed. In the Medicaid overhaul that just passed Florida’s Legislature and awaits
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When Robert and Anne bought their family home thirty years ago, their plan was to live through retirement in this home. They had furnished their home with refurbished antiques acquired from their many trips together. It was one of their cherished antique coffee tables that Robert tripped over, breaking his hip.  Now with his return from the hospital in a wheelchair, the overwhelming task
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Many elderly people rely entirely on family or other trusted individuals to help them. Whether it is for physical needs or emotional needs, as people grow older they tend to need more and more help from others. This dependence on caregivers or family members makes an older person more vulnerable for abuse. For example, an older person relying on her children to provide meals
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For many seniors the equity in their home is their largest single asset, yet it is unavailable to use unless they use a home equity loan. But a conventional loan really doesn’t free up the equity because the money has to be paid back with interest. A reverse mortgage is a risk-free way of tapping into home equity without creating monthly payments and without
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Before attaining 70 1/2, you should review all of your Florida estate planning documents along with those describing financial and retirement benefit planning.  Because the age of 70 1/2 has been magically designated by the Congress of the United States and the Internal Revenue Code as a lock-up date for certain types of tax-deferred compensation plans, it is imperative that all persons within a year
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Whether you reached an age where you have adult children but may not yet be retired, or you have reached retirement age, this stage of financial and estate planning, by this point, you should have a thorough and proper review of your retirement planning.  Unfortunately, I’ve heard that at least 55% of adult Americans, and possibly upwards of 70%, do not have any type
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You are young, in love, and married with a baby on the way (or already here).  Ah, to be young and starting a family again.  Now you really have some responsibility.  Have you thought about who is going to take care of those cute little children if something should happen to one or both of you? Just as we go through different stages in
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So, now you are married.  Have you thought about any financial or estate planning now that you are newlyweds?  Maybe going to buy your first home?  As a married couple, you may begin to acquire joint assets and, if both of you were involved in a sudden accident and passed away, how would you want those assets distributed among your family members?  Maybe you
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As Natasha Bedingfield wrote, “The pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned.”  You might ask yourself, as an eighteen year old or young college student, why do I need to plan anything?  All you have to do is look at the case of Terri Schiavo (and if you don’t know who that is, google her name) to know that it doesn’t matter what age you
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The Florida House of Representatives will vote on a sweeping overhaul of Florida’s Medicaid program by Thursday, with debate starting TOMORROW. This is a dangerous bill that puts the well-being of 3 million Floridians- including poor children, pregnant women, disabled and seniors- at risk. Call and write your Representative TODAY and tell them to VOTE NO to HB 7107 and HB 7109 Tell them:
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