Dear Friends, Family, & Clients,
We were pleasantly surprised by the response to our offer last month of half price consultations to review estate plans. Many former clients responded to the offer and seemed to appreciate the reminder to have their estate plans reviewed, especially during a reduced fee consultation.
As a result, we are extending the offer through the end of the November. Therefore, if you schedule an estate plan review consultation through the month of November, the consulation fee for that meeting will be half price.
We are very happy to provide this service to our clients and that our clients have welcomed the opportunity.
We always appreciate referrals from our satisfied clients, friends, business partners, and family members. We welcome the opportunity to serve the people you care about. Click on the gray Forward Email at the bottom of the page to send this newsletter to someone who will benefit from our insights.
Sincerely,
Severns & Stinson--Pathfinders in Elder Law |
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Elder Law News from Severns & Stinson
October 2010
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Severns & Stinson. P.C.
10293 N. Meridian Street
Suite 150
Indianapolis, Indiana 46290
(317) 817-0300
(317) 817-0302 Fax
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Attorney Spotlight
Attorneys Jeff Stinson and Lindsay Knowles presented at the 2010 Elder Law Institute.
-- Jeff presented on the topic of Long Term Care Insurance.
-- Lindsay presented on the topic of Delivering a Service of Value to Clients.
-- Attorneys Anna Howard and Cliff Dennis also attended the Elder Law Institute.
Attorneys Scott Severns and Anna Howard were successsful in defeating a Motion to Dismiss in a lawsuit they filed on behalf of a girl who went without her seizure medication for 8 months because of actions and inactions by IBM, the former private contractor with IFSSA to administer the Indiana Medicaid program.
Congratulations to our Litigation Team on this important victory.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION AS THIS LAWSUIT PROGRESSESS.
The attorneys at Severns & Stinson are available to make free, educational presentations regarding long term care planning and other issues relevant to seniors and their families. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, please contact us at (317) 817-0300.
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If
you answer yes to any of these questions, Severns & Stinson can
help.
-Has a family member been diagnosed with a mentally
or physically debilitating disorder such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS,
stroke or a decline in functional capacity?
-Is a family member isolated due to the recent death
of a spouse, or have family that either lives too far away or is too busy to
provide adequate care?
-Is a family member soon to be discharged into a care
facility or currently receiving in-home care?
-Does a family member have a variety of healthcare
providers and need coordination and advocacy for quality care?
-Does a family member seem unusually concerned about
costs of medication and services, indicating he or she may be having financial
troubles?
-Does a family member have assets that fall between
$50,000 and $400,000 - enough to finance a short stay in a care facility but not
enough for an extended stay?
-Does a family member have a spouse whose financial
needs must be considered in light of a family member's medical condition?
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Prevent Your Power of Attorney from Being Ignored
 A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents there is. It allows someone you appoint -- your agent or "attorney-in-fact" -- to act in your place for financial purposes when and if you ever become incapacitated. However, many people experience difficulty in getting banks or other financial institutions to recognize the authority of an agent under a power of attorney. Read on |
Social Security May Soon Put Lid on Benefits 'Do-Over' Strategy
The Social Security Administration may soon eliminate a loophole that allows Social Security recipients to claim benefits early and then apply for them again years later when they are eligible for larger checks. An economist estimates that taking advantage of the "do-over" scheme could increase a retiree's living standard by as much as 15 percent -- but there's a significant catch. Read on
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Tips on Providing for Children with Disabilities
One of the majo r concerns for parents or grandparents of children with disabilities is how to provide for the child's financial future. Here are some legal tips, including buying enough life insurance, setting up a trust and coordinating with other family members. Read on
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Survey Finds Medicare Doesn't Work As Well for Younger, Disabled Beneficiaries
A new survey of nearly 4,000 Medicare beneficiaries has found that Medicare beneficiaries who are younger than 65 receive fewer medical services, have a harder time paying for the medical care that they do receive, and are more likely to feel sad or depressed than older beneficiaries. The survey, which was conducted between 2008 and 2009, also highlights the disparity between younger and older beneficiaries when it comes to finding a doctor. Twelve percent of younger beneficiaries claimed that they had difficulty finding a doctor who would accept Medicare, compared to only 4 percent of senior respondents who reported similar problems. Read on
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Charitable Remainder Trusts: Income f or Life and a Good Deed at Death
Many people like the idea of leaving bequests to favorite charities in their wills. But instead of leaving money to a charity in your will, you can put that money into a charitable remainder trust and collect income while you are still alive. Charitable remainder trusts have many other advantages, including reducing your income and estate taxes and diversifying your assets. Read on
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Nursing Home Can't Honor Resident's Request for White-Only Caregivers
A federal court in Indiana has ruled that a nursing home cannot honor patients' requests for caregivers based on race. The case, which pitted nursing home residents' rights against discrimination law, establishes that there may be a limit to a nursing home resident's right to choose a health care provider. Read on
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| About Our Law Firm
Severns & Stinson, P.C. is a law firm focused on the needs of families confronting issues with health care. We have a special emphasis on long term care issues -- an emphasis that has come to be known as "elder law." Our firm consists of five attorneys and two paraprofessionals.
Our services include the following:
- Asset Protection & Long Term Care Planning
- Medicaid Planning, Applications and Appeals
- Medicare Consultation and Advocacy
- Estate Planning
- "Making It Last"™ - Supplemental Needs Trusts and Asset Protection for Persons with Disabilities
- Response Team Building - Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Declarations and Other Advance Directives
- Guardianships and Probate Administration
- Patients Rights and Care Advocacy.
Severns & Stinson. P.C.
10293 N. Meridian Street, Suite 150
Indianapolis, Indiana 46290
317.817-0300
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