tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23483783263173407692024-03-13T21:24:40.790-07:00Kevin Staker's BlogspotBlog on Planning for Long Term Care in Nursing Home under Medi-CalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-89887223992247429472017-08-27T11:22:00.000-07:002017-08-27T11:22:11.633-07:00Benefits of Living Trusts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsYd8bEQ8XWTZuj1CRNDUrb3ekCq_Ituq_wZorLYF43Ha9QAZlzkcrQOQJEhll3_vlyAxu_wJf31wHEwd6QFXwHXWK469zF1zBhDd7YX8WpQhd894GSxMDRR61cM6vUSojv8RGkeX81iE/s1600/Staker+Law-Tax+and+Estate+Planning+Law+Corporation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsYd8bEQ8XWTZuj1CRNDUrb3ekCq_Ituq_wZorLYF43Ha9QAZlzkcrQOQJEhll3_vlyAxu_wJf31wHEwd6QFXwHXWK469zF1zBhDd7YX8WpQhd894GSxMDRR61cM6vUSojv8RGkeX81iE/s320/Staker+Law-Tax+and+Estate+Planning+Law+Corporation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Kevin Staker is the president and principal lawyer of his law firm, Staker Law-Tax and Estate Planning Law Corporation. Kevin Staker uploads webinars called on his website educating his clients about living trusts in California. His webinars regularly receive positive reviews from his audience; they proclaim that his videos are beneficial introductions to <a href="http://staker.com/" target="_blank">estate planning</a>. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A living trust is a legal document that places your assets in a trust for your benefit. When the trustee dies, their assets are transferred to their chosen heirs. Living trusts have several benefits that can save families substantial amounts of money and time. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Unlike wills, living trusts are not subject to probates. Probates are legal processes that take place when someone passes. Probates require that potential inheritors handle the deceased’s debt and, property, and prove the validity of their will in court. Living trusts allow for assets to automatically release to beneficiaries upon the passing of the trustor, helping them avoid delays and unnecessary fees.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-34060047337258870202017-06-23T09:07:00.001-07:002017-06-23T09:07:47.435-07:00How Probate Works<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG36OZwBMzQhXM2-d_aNTNW1sSSvm9wtI0zp4ckdpdcMCTA0uVgd5Xp1RwP_Ypt53PwSMOl-SfvTqKRTNSghxYrCXLaHbweQEhZeNqKitCaLfAun0Hq9YU3LInTWzIHktqTplSHvgpmJAu/s1600/Kevin+Staker+Probate+and+Trust+Mediation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG36OZwBMzQhXM2-d_aNTNW1sSSvm9wtI0zp4ckdpdcMCTA0uVgd5Xp1RwP_Ypt53PwSMOl-SfvTqKRTNSghxYrCXLaHbweQEhZeNqKitCaLfAun0Hq9YU3LInTWzIHktqTplSHvgpmJAu/s1600/Kevin+Staker+Probate+and+Trust+Mediation.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As principal of <a href="http://staker.com/probate/" target="_blank">Kevin Staker Probate and Trust Mediation</a>, Kevin Staker guides individuals and families in the process of estate distribution. Kevin Staker comes to this role with extensive experience in estate law, having led the StakerLaw Tax and Estate Planning Law Corporation for more than 30 years.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A revocable living trust, also known simply as a living trust, allows an individual to determine ownership of his or her estate throughout the phases of independent living, potential incapacitation, and death. Most trusts allow the trustmaker to control and spend the assets placed in the trust for as long as he or she can do so. This provision includes the right to change the trust by removing assets, adding new assets, or change the identity of beneficiaries.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The trust also designates the identity of a trustee, who assumes responsibility for handling the assets in trust after the trustmaker passes away. Some trusts direct the trustee to distribute assets to beneficiaries, while others ask that the trustmaker continue to manage assets on beneficiaries' behalf. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A trustmaker may also authorize his or her trustee to manage his or her assets should the trustmaker lose the ability to do so during his or her lifetime. This way, if the trustmaker loses the mental ability ot manage his or her affairs, the trustee can take over finances without needing to go through the court process of becoming a guardian.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-30363257676810083392017-04-22T06:59:00.002-07:002017-04-22T06:59:59.923-07:00Medi-Cal Has Announced 2017 Average Private Pay Rate for Long Term Care in California by Kevin StakerMedi-Cal Has Announced 2017 Average Private Pay Rate for Long Term Care in California by Kevin Staker<br />
<br />
The Average Private Pay Rate ("APPR") for 2017 for Medi-Cal, the California equivalent of Medic-Aid, has been announced. The amount is $8,515. The authority/confirmation for this amount can be found at <cite class="_Rm"><a href="http://www.canhr.org/medcal/PDFs/RateCOLA.pdf">www.canhr.org/medcal/PDFs/RateCOLA.pdf</a>.</cite><br />
<br />
The APPR is the average amount the California Department of Health Services believes nursing homes charge each month for a patient in long term care in a facility. The APPR is also very important in planning to qualify for Medi-Cal to pay for long term care for an individual in a nursing home. If you give $8,515 to an individual, not your spouse or a disabled child, it will result in one month of ineligibility from Medi-Cal. <br />
<br />
Hence, any gift causes ineligibility for months based on the amount of the gift divided by the $8,515. The strange quirk in California law is the period of ineligibility is the number of months <b>rounded down</b>. Thus, a gift of $8,514.99 or less will result in <i>no period of ineligibility</i>. This is a tremendous loophole. <br />
<br />
An individual who needs to go into a nursing home can give away under $8,515 per account per day per individual and it will not cause any period of ineligibility. <br />
<br />
For more information go to the <a href="http://staker.com/medi-cal-planning/" target="_blank">Medi-Cal planning page</a> of the website of Kevin Staker at StakerLaw. This page is found at .<br />
<br />
By Kevin StakerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-62330441586474468892017-04-10T13:34:00.001-07:002017-04-10T13:34:43.747-07:00Increasing Your Fitness for Golf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHygn0j5dc_ChnsaoTn2GCRCDvB6c1M2pnS1J7LVAh4KT08uSDtX9NhyPjgcmMWh3OFxjohdP-Sm1b5LZ7jkJUxaa8q57z4dSe9JmB5Nt2ohH75UByr-gsPFdrrX1fia4B7yFJrqkMB7m_/s1600/Increasing+Your+Fitness+for+Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHygn0j5dc_ChnsaoTn2GCRCDvB6c1M2pnS1J7LVAh4KT08uSDtX9NhyPjgcmMWh3OFxjohdP-Sm1b5LZ7jkJUxaa8q57z4dSe9JmB5Nt2ohH75UByr-gsPFdrrX1fia4B7yFJrqkMB7m_/s320/Increasing+Your+Fitness+for+Golf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Experienced in probate and trust mediation, Kevin Staker operates a solo legal practice in California. In his spare time, Kevin Staker can often be found on the golf course, perfecting his game.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As a golfer you can take several measures besides practice to improve your game overall. Here are some of them, as mentioned in <a href="http://www.golfdigest.com/story/fitness-friday-one-exercise-for-a-better-backswing" target="_blank">Golf Digest</a>:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Drink plenty of water</b>. Doing so curbs your appetite, promoting weight loss. It also promotes a better swing, since it increases power and endurance. Minimum recommendation: 70 ounces per day.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Walk a minimum of 7,000 steps a day.</b> Lengthy sitting can cause back and hip problems and affect your swing. If you can’t get in this much walking on the course, try the mall or your neighborhood.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Boost your heart rate.</b> Regular cardio and interval training will improve your ability to concentrate on crucial plays during matches.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Include glute exercises in your workout.</b> Well-exercised butt muscles can contribute to a powerful swing. When sitting, contract them, both together at once and alternating left and right. Take the stairs when you can.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Exercise in all three planes.</b> Commonly, people exercise only forward and backward. However, the golf swing also involves lateral (side to side) and rotational (twisting) motions. Such activities as medicine ball practice, torso lunges, and lateral and rotational jumps build flexibility.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Use self-massage.</b> Foam rollers and other tools such as foam sticks and balls increase muscle pliability, which improves your swing. Work the back, hips, and calves for 15 minutes two or three times a week.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- <b>Finally, keep track of calories.</b> Smartphone apps can track the caloric value of your food intake. Restricting what you eat using this technology will improve your mobility, give you more energy, and reduce stress on your bones.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-66358537379777480132017-03-16T13:49:00.002-07:002017-03-16T13:49:15.885-07:00StakerLaw Tax and Estate Planning - Ventura County Legal Aid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUECx82PgHOABAXgpo2cgjVevcbDkb-V7LwcUiu8_g7MrKbN_hA7ha6s5VBvd6UGDfybWyBm2o2i4J5Ek0uwvYy08AbVWTXo9qfbMvxS4441gVBUljrrUZcV9XsIrmj8oAp7ixSZU5AfCd/s1600/StakerLaw+Tax+and+Estate+Planning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUECx82PgHOABAXgpo2cgjVevcbDkb-V7LwcUiu8_g7MrKbN_hA7ha6s5VBvd6UGDfybWyBm2o2i4J5Ek0uwvYy08AbVWTXo9qfbMvxS4441gVBUljrrUZcV9XsIrmj8oAp7ixSZU5AfCd/s320/StakerLaw+Tax+and+Estate+Planning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Currently serving as the president and principal attorney for the <a href="http://staker.com/" target="_blank">StakerLaw Tax and Estate Planning Law Corporation</a>, Kevin Staker provides services involving estate planning, probate, and living trusts. Practicing from his office in Camarillo, California, and primarily serving the Southern California area, Kevin Staker is also the 2016 President of Ventura County Legal Aid (VCLA), Inc.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ventura County Legal Aid offers pro bono legal work to low-income residents of Ventura County who qualify. Services are provided by volunteer attorneys who give free legal advice regarding general legal questions, collections law, and family law, among other areas. Legal services are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, and assistance is not provided for criminal matters.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">VCLA attorneys help with cases involving immigration law and those needing deportation advice, as well as family cases that involve domestic violence. The legal aid program also works with expungements, helping to get convictions set aside along with preparing and filing the correct paperwork.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-79066998786755305732017-02-12T15:36:00.000-08:002017-02-12T15:36:03.553-08:002017 Med-CalResource Limits by Kevin Staker<b>2017 Medi-Cal Limits for Long Term Care by Kevin Staker</b><br />
<br />
The <b>Community Spouse Resource Allowance</b> ("CSRA") for 2017, the amount at home spouse can have in countable assets is $120,900 in assets.<br />
<br />
The maximum amount of income the at home spouse is guaranteed to receive is $3,023. This amount is called the<b> Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance</b>
("MMMNA"). The MMMNA can be increased by going to Court and requesting
additional support for the at home spouse from the income of the ill
spouse.<br />
<br />
For 2016 and early 2017 the <b>Average </b><b>Private Pay Rate</b>
("APPR") for nursing homes is $8,189. The APPR is used in
calculating the term of ineligibility if an individual gives non-exempt
assets to other individuals.<br />
<br />
Kevin Staker has stated:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Medi-Cal will release a new APPR usually in April 2017. This figure is used for calculating a period of ineligibility if an individual makes improperly large gifts</div>
<br />
By Kevin Staker<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-81546754391670683012017-02-12T15:19:00.002-08:002017-02-12T15:27:02.621-08:00Medicare Versus Medi-Cal by Kevin Staker<h3>
Medicare</h3>
<b>Medicare</b><br />
<br />
Medicare is the federal medical insurance program. Its funds come primarily for payroll deductions out of the paychecks of American workers. All individuals 65 or older who have contributed to Social Security receive its benefits. Also, individuals under age 65 who have been eligible for Social Security disability
benefits for at least two years, or persons of any age with end-stage
kidney disease are eligible.<br />
<br />
Medicare has two parts. Hospital Insurance is Part A, and
Medical Insurance is Part B. Those persons eligible for Social Security
or Railroad Retirement benefits as workers, dependents or survivors, All individuals are
eligible for Part A when they turn 65. If an individual has failed to work enough calendar quarters to qualify for benefits, he or she may pay a monthly premium and qualify. If an individual purchases Part A, Medicare Hospital Insurance, he or she must also enroll in Part B, Medical Insurance. Participants in the Medicare are liable for co-payments and
deductibles along with monthly payments for Part B coverage.
Medicare is not based on financial need. Any individual is eligible who meets the age,
disability or coverage requirements of Medicare.<br />
<br />
Medicare does not cover all medical expenses. It must be
supplemented with private insurance, also called "medigap" insurance, such as Anthem, or consumers can enroll
in an HMO plan that contracts with Medicare, such as Kaiser Permanente. After three days in the
hospital, Medicare will pay up to 100 percent for the first 20 days of
skilled nursing care. For days 21 through 100 days, the individual pays a
typically large co-payment. The premiums and copayments increase every year. After day 100, Medicare coverage for nursing home care ends.<br />
<br />
Please note that Medicare only pays for “skilled nursing
care.” It does not pay for “custodial care”, such as in a board and care home. The average stay in a
nursing home under Medicare is usually less than 24 days; people simply do not want to pay the large co-payment. Thus, Medicare fails to cover long term care in a nursing home.<br />
<br />
<b>Medi-Cal</b><br />
<br />
Medi-Cal is a California State program largely paid for with federal tax dollars. It pays for medical care for individuals with low income. Some Medi-Cal recipients may receive Medicare,
but the two programs are separate. Medi-Cal is
a needs based. In California it is now called "Covered California". It is part of the Affordable Care Act - Obamacare. <br />
<br />
Kevin Staker has stated the following:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
You cannot rely on Medicare to pay for long term care. Long term care insurance is very expensive. Older folks must consider what must be done if they need to qualify. In a future blog post, I will talk about the keys: a good financial power of attorney that allows gifts, including to the agent, and a living trust if you own a home.</div>
<br />
By Kevin Staker<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-11479220983144689782016-10-25T17:52:00.001-07:002016-10-25T17:52:13.937-07:00New Federal Regulations on Medi-Cal and Nursing Homes by Kevin Staker<br />
<b>Revised Federal Regulations on Medi-Cal and Nursing Homes</b><br /><br />
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS"), part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule on long term care facilities.<br />
<br />This rule revises the requirements that Long-Term Care facilities must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These changes reflect the substantial advances that have been made over the past several years in the theory and practice of service delivery and safety. These revisions are also an integral part of their our efforts to broadly improve both the quality of health care furnished through federal<br />programs, and patient safety. However, they also attempt to reduce the procedural burdens on long term care providers.<br />
<br />
One important rule is a prohibition of arbitration clauses in pre-admission agreements.<br />
<br />
These regulations are effective on November 28, 2016. They revise 42 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 405, 431, 447, 482, 483, 485, 488, and 489.<br />
<br />
By Kevin Staker Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-49176335184531930212016-10-04T11:58:00.001-07:002016-10-04T11:58:08.851-07:002016 Medi-Cal Amounts by Kevin Staker<b>2016 Medi-Cal Amounts for Long Term Care by Kevin Staker</b><br />
<br />
The <strong>Community Spouse Resource Allowance</strong> ("CSRA") for 2016, the amount at home spouse can have in countable assets is $119,220 in assets. <br />
<br />
The maximum amount of income the at home spouse is guaranteed to receive is $2,981. This amount is called the<strong> Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance</strong> ("MMMNA"). The MMMNA can be increased by going to Court and requesting additional support for the at home spouse from the income of the ill spouse. <br />
<br />
For 2016 the <strong>Average </strong><strong>Private Pay Rate</strong> ("APPR") for nursing homes for 2016 is $8,189. The APPR is used in calculating the term of ineligibility if an individual gives non-exempt assets to other individuals.<br />
<br />
By Kevin Staker<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-76887034126874938992016-10-03T16:44:00.002-07:002016-10-03T16:44:46.414-07:00Medi-Cal Recovery Only Against Probate Estate for Long Term Care Costs by Kevin Staker<b>Medi-Cal Recovery Only Against Probate Estate for Long Term Care Costs by Kevin Staker</b><br />
<br />
We have had some time now to digest the 2016 California State Budget Act and its limitations on
recovery by the California Department of Health Care Services ("DHCS") arising
out of services from Medi-Cal. <br />
<br />
The key point that surfaces is that DHCS can only recover against a probate estate. Futher, tt can only recover for nursing home facility and long term care services provided
after age 55 or any age if the person was “permanently
institutionalized”. <br />
<br />
Hence, a living trust of a decedent avoids recovery. This is another clear advantage of living trusts for estate planning. <br />
<br />
Joint tenancies will also escape recovery; but they can be very crude in their disposal on assets. Especially because a co-tenants creditors can go after their share of the asset. A living trust avoids that.<br />
<br />
Please note these changes are effective for individuals who die on or after January 1, 2017..<br />
<br />
For an explanation further in depth, go to the site of the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform at <a href="http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/medi-cal_fs/html/fs_medcal_recovery_FAQ.htm">http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/medi-cal_fs/html/fs_medcal_recovery_FAQ.htm</a>.<br />
<br />
By Kevin Staker<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-69950040329316348652016-07-05T17:11:00.004-07:002016-07-05T17:11:55.477-07:00Medi-Cal Recovery for Nursing Home Costs Limited by 2016 California State Budget Act (by Kevin Staker)<b>New Limits on Medi-Cal Recovery for Long Term Care </b><br />
<br />
The 2016 California State Budget Act incorporates the limitations on
recovery by the California Department of Health Care Services ("DHCS") arising
out of services from Medi-Cal. The changes were originally proposed in Senate Bill 33. <br />
<br />
The changes include:<br />
<ul>
<li>No recovery against the estate of a surviving spouse;</li>
<li>Recovery limited to the federal law requirements, in other words,
only for nursing home facility and long term care services provided
after age 55 or any age if the person was “permanently
institutionalized”;</li>
<li>No recovery against homes of modest value;</li>
<li>Recover only against a probate estate, and so living trusts and joint tenancies will escape recovery; and</li>
<li>A limit on the interest on Medi-Cal liens.</li>
</ul>
These changes are effective for individuals who die on or after January 1, 2017..<br />
<br />
The changes will dramatically decrease the effort needed to escape
recovery for Medi-Cal expenses for long term care in a nursing home.<br />
<br />
By Kevin Staker Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-19907206032533703592016-03-07T13:56:00.001-08:002016-03-07T13:56:14.556-08:00Staggered Gifting by Kevin Staker"Staggered gifting" is still allowed under California Medi-Cal law. This state of the law allows an individual to give assets to family member or friends and not cause a period of ineligibility for Medi-Cal to pay for long term care in a nursing home. <br />
<br />
The key is the "average private pay rate" in a nursing home in California. Divided the gift by the APPR and that gives you the period Presently one rounds <b>down</b>. Hence a gift of under the APPR in 2015 of under $8,092 causes a fraction under one. Rounded down gets us to zero. Hence, no period of ineligibility under California law. <br />
<br />
The APPR for 2016 should come out in late March 2016. Go to canhr.org to discover it. Found at <a href="http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/medi-cal_fs/html/fs_medcal_limits.htm">http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/medi-cal_fs/html/fs_medcal_limits.htm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
By Kevin Staker<b></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348378326317340769.post-42797790206808679782016-01-16T13:01:00.002-08:002016-01-16T13:01:52.087-08:00Kevin Staker Elected President of Ventura County Legal Aid, Inc. for 2016Ventura, California<br />
<br />
Kevin Staker, a living trust and estate planning attorney with StakerLaw Tax and Estate Planning Law Corporation in Camarillo, California, has been elected President by the Board of Directors of Ventura County Legal Aid, Inc. ("VCLA") for 2016. VCLA dedicates its work to assist lower income individuals in Ventura County, California, with legal issues they cannot otherwise afford to pay for. <br />
<br />
VCLA provides services two ways: first, VCLA finds an attorney to work pro bono to handle the case of an individual, second at its legal clinic at the Ventura County Law Library from 4 pm to 7 pm on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. <br />
<br />
VCLA is the public service affiliate of the Ventura County Bar Association. Charmaine Buehner, President of the Ventura County Bar made the following nice comments about Kevin Staker's appointment:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Camarillo-based tax-and-estate planning attorney <strong>Kevin Staker </strong>has
graciously agreed, after unanimous vote of the board, to serve as the
president of Ventura County Legal Aid in 2016. Together with the VCLA
Board and Emeritus attorneys, Kevin will continue the important work of
Legal Aid’s direct representation program. Second, Legal Aid will see
the launch of a new free legal clinic in Ventura at the County Law
Library beginning on <strong>Feb. 2</strong>, continuing on the first and third Tuesday of the month from <strong>4 to 7 p.m</strong>. Check out our plans for the clinic, sign up to volunteer or donate at <em>www.vclegalaid.org</em>, or contact me or the co-chair of the clinic committee, <strong>Mark Kirwin</strong>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Source: <a href="http://www.vcba.org/2015/12/presidents-column-the-butterfly-effect-by-charmaine-h-buehner/">http://www.vcba.org/2015/12/presidents-column-the-butterfly-effect-by-charmaine-h-buehner/</a><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08377841062908465764noreply@blogger.com0