Vol 5  Issue Eight    
November 2011 
In This Issue
The Annual Medicare Switch
Humor
Put Yourself In Charge!

 

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ELU DVDs
Take A Look At Sample Workbooks!
102 - Powers of Attorney

105 - Medicaid

107 - Putting It Together: Strategies
Greetings!

Running Turkey
WE'VE BEEN BUSY!
Sorry we're a bit late. We've been waiting around on impending federal cost of living adjustments (COLAs). The past few years there have been very few adjustments because most are pegged to Social Security COLAs . . . and as you may know Social Security has made no adjustments lately.

The adjustments are important because they effect everything from Social Security benefits to veterans benefits. Also in the works are adjustments to Medicare premiums and co-payments and deductibles.

We have those in hand! But it will take a day or two to crunch those and get them to you.

In the meantime, we're in the middle of Medicare open enrollment period. Many of my clients complain and crab (rightly so!) that the Medicare enrollment rules, when to switch (if at all) to Medicare Advantage, what happens if you don't sign-up for a drug benefit, should you sign up for a drug benefit . . . [deep sigh] . . . are confusing.

So . . . I have prepared a summary article (see below). Most important . . . I have also prepared a number of summary charts that should lay-out for you very clearly the periods in which you may (or may not) sign-up for the different benefits. Also included is a chart comparing various features of the different Medigap Plans available, as well as a chart comparing the various Medicare Advantage Plans available.

You MUST click through on the article below to reach the link to download these great charts.

 

Because I am anxious to rush the useful Medicare information to you, I'm breaking November Elder Law Update into two editions. Look for a second November edition with all sorts of fancy COLA numbers in the next few days.   

 

Finally . . . read to the end of this newsletter for a bit of humor! 

     

 

Bob sig

 

Bob Mason
Certified Elder Law Attorney
NC Board Certified Specialist - Elder Law
  

 

Certified by the National Elder Law Foundation, recognized by the American Bar Association as the certifying entity for specialization in  Elder Law.

Also certified in Elder Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. 

Getting Through The Annual Medicare (Do I Switch?) Mess - Neat And Useful Charts! 

 

What do Halloween and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Periods have in common?

           

  1. They both are spooky.Sick Pumpkins   
  2. They happen at about the same time.   
  3. They leave many people in the dark.   
  4. Too much of either can make you sick.   
  5. All of the above.   

The correct answer, of course, is: E.   All of the above.   

 

By the end of this brief post you will understand what a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is. We are currently in it. This year (enrollment for 2012) it runs from October 15 through December 7.

 

You'll also be able to download a very useful set of charts. 

 

First let's take a look at what Medicare Advantage is and how it is different from "Original" Medicare. If you bear with me to the end, I'll even mention a few neat tricks (or treats?).

 

 

 To read the rest of this article, click HERE. 


HUMOR! 

 

Lady with gunAn elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.  

 

She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"  

 

The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.  

 

The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her keys into the ignition.  

 

She tried and tried, and then she realized why. It was for the same reason she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat.  

 

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces further down.

She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.  

 

The sergeant to whom she told her story couldn't stop laughing.  

 

He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a carjacking by a mad elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.  

 

No charges were filed.  

 

Moral of the story? If you're going to have a senior moment . . . make it memorable.

 

What Can Mason Law Do For You?

 

You've worked hard all your life for what you have.  You're concerned about being left destitute by long term care costs.  You'd like to leave something of your hard work to your children.  You're tired of worrying about it all.

 

Maybe we've just described a parent. If so, you're concerned about your mother's or father's health care needs, you are busy and don't know where to start, your prime concern is making sure your parent's assets are used in the best way possible for their care.


We can help you.  Using state of the art mastery of complex trust, tax, testamentary, Medicaid, and VA law we can save you thousands, give you a sense of security and ease your troubled mind.
The Usual Disclaimer: This newsletter is for general information only. Please do not rely on anything you read in this email as definitive legal advice applicable to you. All situations are different, including yours. Nothing you read in this newsletter is a suitable substitute for professional advice you may receive from your attorney, your accountant, or your tax advisor.    All contents copyrighted 2011 by Mason Law, PC. Contents may be republished with written permission of Mason Law, PC (which permission will usually be given!).