As much as we all prefer not to dwell on the possibility, the reality is that we all stand a good chance of needing long-term care at some point during our retirement years. Knowing that, it makes sense to plan for the possibility within your estate plan. Toward that end, a Connecticut Medicaid planning attorney at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. explains some common long-term care planning steps.
- Take a very real and honest inventory of your health. Although most people cannot predict the need for long-term care (LTC), evaluating your state of your health now may be helpful when creating a LTC plan. This is particularly true if you have any chronic conditions and/or a family history of serious health conditions. For example, if you already have diabetes or high blood pressure, or there is a strong family history of heart disease, it is logical to predict that you have a higher likelihood of needing LTC down the road. Those same health conditions could cause your insurance premiums to increase dramatically as you age.
- Look into LTC options and costs. While around the clock care in a nursing home is certainly one type of LTC, it is not the only type. Other options may include assisted living, community care, home health aides, and even family caregivers. Planning for LTC requires you to have some idea what that care will cost. Nationwide, the average cost of a year in LTC for 2019 was about $100,000. In Connecticut, however, that same year cost over $160,000 while assisted living and adult day health care ran approximately $60,000 and $22,000 respectively.
- Make sure you understand your insurance options. As a senior, you will likely depend on Medicare to cover the majority of your health care costs. What you may not know is that Medicare will not cover your LTC expenses. Neither will most private health insurance policies. A separate LTC policy is an option; however, the premiums may be high and the covered may be less than you anticipated.
- Have an honest conversation with family members. Understandably, most seniors would prefer to age in place and not have to be moved to an LTC facility. Likewise, when you are older you would probably prefer a family member to care of you instead of a nurse. Before you assume that your family members are willing to help though, sit down and have a very honest discussion. If you have four children who all live close and each has room for you, the need to move to an LTC facility may be unlikely in your case. On the other hand, if three of those four children are scattered around the globe, and the fourth doesn’t appear to be willing/able to provide care, you may wish to focus more on planning for LTC.
- Incorporate Medicaid planning into your estate plan. The good news when it comes to long-term care planning is that Medicaid does cover LTC expenses. The bad news is that failing to plan ahead could put your assets at risk and/or result in your application for Medicaid being denied. Medicaid uses both income and asset limits when evaluating an application. If you own non-exempt assets valued above the limit, you may be forced to sell those assets (“spend-down”) and use the proceeds to pay your LTC costs. Only when those proceeds are gone will you qualify for Medicaid. Planning ahead, however, by incorporating Medicaid planning into your comprehensive estate plan can protect your hard-earned assets and set you up to be eligible for Medicaid if you need the benefits offered by the program in the future.
Contact a Connecticut Medicaid Planning Attorney
For more information, please download our FREE estate planning worksheet. If you have additional questions or concerns about long-term care and/or Medicaid planning, contact an experienced Connecticut Medicaid planning attorney at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C.by calling (860) 548-1000 to schedule an appointment.
Founding Partner and President at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates PC
Barry D. Horowitz is a founding partner and president of the law firm of Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. He received his diploma from the Loomis Chaffee School and his Bachelor of Arts from Bennington College, where he dual majored in philosophy and music.
Mr. Horowitz was awarded his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. While attending law school, Mr. Horowitz received the American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Ethics and the Nathan Burkan Award.
After graduation from law school, Mr. Horowitz continued his legal education at New York University School of Law where he received a Post Doctorate Law Degree in Taxation. He has also recently received a national achievement award.
Mr. Horowitz is admitted to practice before all the state courts in the State of Connecticut and the United States District Court.
Mr. Horowitz was selected for Super Lawyers in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Mr. Horowitz was awarded his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. While attending law school, Mr. Horowitz received the American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Ethics and the Nathan Burkan Award.
After graduation from law school, Mr. Horowitz continued his legal education at New York University School of Law where he received a Post Doctorate Law Degree in Taxation. He has also recently received a national achievement award.
Mr. Horowitz is admitted to practice before all the state courts in the State of Connecticut and the United States District Court.
Mr. Horowitz was selected for Super Lawyers in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
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