Our Blog
Welcome to the blog of R. F. Meyer & Associates, where we share company news and informative articles related to our Elder Law, Probate and Estate Planning legal practice.
Online Survey Helps Assess Seniors’ Financial Vulnerability
All older Americans are vulnerable to financial abuse, but there are certain circumstances that make someone more likely to be scammed. An online survey can help older adults (or their caregivers) assess their risk of being exploited based on how they make financial...
Social Security Fund Shortfall Predicted Year Earlier Due to Pandemic
The Social Security trustees are projecting that due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic the Social Security trust fund will be depleted in 2033 -- one year earlier than the previous estimates. Once the fund is depleted, Social Security benefits will be...
MMMNA: Medicaid’s Attempt to Ensure Healthy Spouse Has Income
When most of a couple's income is in the name of the spouse who is receiving Medicaid, the spouse remaining in the community may wonder what he or she will live on. Medicaid has created some protections for the community spouse. Although Medicaid limits the assets...
Is Your Medicare Plan Still Working for You?
Every year Medicare gives beneficiaries a window of opportunity to shop around and determine if their current Medicare plan is still the best one for them. During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, beneficiaries can freely...
It’s that time again: Medicare Open Enrollment starts next week
Dear Clients and referral partners, A little earlier this morning, we released our October 2021 newsletter from R. F. Meyer & Associates. If you did not receive a copy by email, find a link below to the full newsletter in PDF form. The newsletter this month...
Are You Overestimating Your Social Security Benefits?
Studies have found that workers overestimate how much they will receive in Social Security benefits when they retire. Having a good understanding of the realities can help you plan for retirement. Researchers from the University of Michigan studied the expectations of...
Home Care Waivers Can Help Avoid Nursing Home But May Involve Waitlist
Medicaid long-term care benefits traditionally pay mainly for nursing home care, but the federal government can grant “waivers” to states allowing them to expand Medicaid to include home and community-based services. The downside is that receiving care in a nursing...
September 2021 newsletter released, covers aspects of planning
Yesterday, we released the R. F. Meyer & Associates September 2021 e-newsletter. If you did not receive it by email, you can download the full PDF version at the link below. With Labor Day behind us and fall ahead, this edition addresses planning, in a number of...
How Much Money Can You Have and Still Qualify for Medicaid?
In order to be eligible for Medicaid benefits a nursing home resident may have no more than $2,000 in "countable" assets (the figure may be somewhat higher in some states). Note that Medicaid is a state-run program, so the rules are somewhat different in each state,...