Medicaid

Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will provide payments for many retired seniors, disabled veterans, and individuals with disabilities -- though not for those who receive only SSI (Supplemental Security Income - the poverty program not linked to an earnings record).  If your benefit checks total over $3,000 per year, but your total income doesn't exceed $75,000 per year, you may be eligible for a Stimulus Payment in the range of $300-$600.  Even if you normally do not file a tax return, you DO need to file a tax return this year to get your Stimulus Payment.  See this link for how the IRS wants you to complete the form:  http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/1040a.pdf 

If you receive both Social Security Disability (or Retirement) and SSI, or both Medicare and Medicaid, don't worry that getting the Stimulus payment check will disqualify you from your benefits right away.  The law includes a provision that the refund is not to be taken into account as income, nor is it to be taken into account as a resource for the month of receipt and the following 2 months, for purposes of determining eligibility for means-tested federal benefits (like Medicaid and SSI). So once you get your Stimulus Payment, if that puts you up over the resource limit ($1,500 for Medicaid, $2,000 for SSI), you have a couple of months to spend it down.  Link to the entire law:  http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-5140

~Sandra Buzney gave a presentation on Special Needs Trust Planning on September 15, 2006 at the 31st Annual Renal Symposium held at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center in Aurora, Ohio.  The Renal Symposium is sponsored by the Kidney Foundation of Ohio.

~Sandra Buzney co-presented a "Lorman Education Services" seminar on Medicaid and Elder Law Issues in Ohio on November 17, 2005 at the Holiday Inn Cleveland South.

~Elena Lidrbauch attended the first annual educational conference of the National Alliance of Medicare Set Aside Professionals (NAMSAP) in Orlando, Florida on November 11, 2005. The recently organized group is a non-profit association that focuses on addressing the issues and challenges of the Medicare Secondary Payer Statute and its impact on workers' compensation and liability settlements. Elena is a member of NAMSAP.

~Sandra Buzney presented a Medicaid Overview during the "Suddenly Senior 2005", an Educational Adventure in Aging conference on April 7, 2005 at the InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center in Cleveland.  The conference was sponsored by the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation.