Smart Shopper Insurance Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that Medigap premiums for plans from insurance companies offering the same benefits vary widely, so it pays to be smart shopper insurance. Federal law requires that each insurance company offers the same benefits for each of the Medigap plans lettered A through M, but each company…
Social Security Administration Portal Make It Easier to Complete Key Tasks Online Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack says that if you currently receive – or are planning to apply for – Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you can now visit the Social Security Administration’s recently updated My Social Security portal to complete the…
Emergency Contacts and Medical Information Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack says that if medical personnel are able to access your medical history during an emergency, it could mean the difference between life and death. But if, for example, you are injured, in shock, suffering from dementia, or are otherwise incapacitated, you may not be able…
Prescription Drug Pricing Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that if you are among the more than 49 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D, you may feel overwhelmed by the costs of your prescription drugs from one year to the next. Proposed legislation currently awaiting review by the Senate could bring you some relief…
Personal Needs Allowance Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that seniors who rely on Medicaid and live in nursing homes receive a personal needs allowance — a monthly stipend the Medicaid recipient can use to pay for needs that Medicaid does not cover. Medicaid restricts the amount of the allowance and how it is used.…
FDA Hearing Aids Approval FDA Hearing Aids – On August 17, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids. Devices for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss will be available in October 2022. The FDA’s rule follows President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy,…
Claiming Social Security Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack says that if you are about to turn 70, congratulations on reaching a big milestone. And if you also have delayed claiming Social Security retirement benefits up till now, you are joining a select group — only 6.5 percent of Social Security recipients put off collecting their…
BenefitsCheckUp Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that older adults have access to hundreds of federal and state benefits programs. Many retirees meet the requirements for these aids, yet do not know they are eligible and miss opportunities to receive assistance. Others can feel overwhelmed by complex application processes. BenefitsCheckUp, the National Council on Aging’s…
Qualify for Medicaid Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that many seniors find themselves in need of Medicaid to pay for their long-term care but are surprised to learn that their modest monthly income may disqualify them. The reason for this is that Medicaid is a “means-tested” benefit. In other words, you must not have…
Generic Health Care Proxy Forms Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that doctors, nurses, and hospital staff work hard to care for their patients when they are sick or hurt. However, even when a procedure is done to save a patient’s life, a hospital cannot act without the patient consent. If a patient cannot speak…