People with special needs may qualify for a variety of government benefits, including Medicaid and Medicare. It can be difficult to tell the two programs apart, especially because their names are so similar. However, Medicaid and Medicare, which account for the lion’s share of federal spending on health care, are dramatically different programs with different […]
Medicaid vs. Medicare – What’s the Difference? Read More »
Research shows that roughly one in seven adults aged 65 or older will need long-term care at some point in their later years. Meanwhile, tens of millions of Baby Boomers in the United States are growing older and living longer. It seems inevitable, then, that the future of long-term care will be undergoing significant changes.
What You Should Know About Long-Term Care Read More »
When a loved one becomes unable to manage their personal care or finances due to disability, the legal system offers a structured path to provide help. But what happens when you need immediate authority—especially during a crisis, or when the disabled adult (called the “respondent”) objects to guardianship? That’s where Temporary Guardianship for Disabled Adults
A special needs trust (or supplemental needs trust) can help a person with disabilities supplement any benefits they may receive from government programs. With a well-crafted special needs trust, the beneficiary can receive public benefits while receiving funds from the trust at the same time. Special needs trusts come in three main types, but first
What’s a Special Needs Trust For, and How Can It Help? Read More »
As our loved ones age or face medical challenges, questions about future care and legal decision-making become more important. In Illinois, the law offers a powerful planning tool known as standby guardianship, which allows families to prepare for a time when an adult may no longer be able to manage their own personal or financial
The Role of Standby Guardians in Illinois: Planning Ahead for Adults with Disabilities Read More »
When a loved one passes away, the administration of their estate can be complex—especially if they resided in one state but owned property in another. This situation often triggers what’s known as ancillary probate, a secondary legal process to administer the out-of-state property. For example, if someone died while residing in Florida but owned real
Navigating Probate for Out-of-State Decedents with Illinois Property Read More »
One area that causes a lot of confusion regarding Medicaid is the lookback period. What exactly does it mean for applicants? Unlike Medicare, Medicaid is a means-based program. In other words, you are only eligible for Medicaid if you have very few assets. The government does not want you to transfer all your assets on
The Look-Back Period: What You Need to Know About Medicaid Penalties Read More »
One area that causes a lot of confusion regarding Medicaid is the look-back period. What exactly does it mean for applicants? Unlike Medicare, Medicaid is a means-based program. In other words, you are only eligible for Medicaid if you have very few assets. The government does not want you to transfer all your assets on
The Look-Back Period: What You Need to Know About Medicaid Penalties Read More »
Federal law requires each state to attempt to recover long-term care benefits from Medicaid recipient’s estates after their death. This is known as Medicaid estate recovery. If a Medicaid recipient had failed to protect their house, it may need to be sold to settle the claim. Who Does the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) Affect?
Medicaid Estate Recovery and Payback Rules Read More »
Estate administration is the process of managing and distributing a person’s property (the “estate”) after death. If the person had a will, the will goes through probate, which is the process by which the deceased person’s property is passed to his or her heirs and legatees (people named in the will). The entire process, supervised
The Basics of Estate Administration Read More »
