Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes
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Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes

Caregiver, Public Benefits

Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes

March is the month to honor unsung heroes of the workforce: social workers. There are over 700,000 social workers in the United States, and the profession is growing. Social workers dedicate their lives to helping others navigate challenges. They counsel those with mental health and addiction issues, help families navigate foster care and adoption, counsel students, and are essential in a myriad of interdisciplinary teams, including those in hospitals, advocacy organizations, and elder law firms. When I transitioned to the practice of elder law, it was important to me to work for a firm employing social workers. After 10 years [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:31:57-05:00March 25, 2022|

Senior Resources: Social Work, Care Coordination, and Elder Law
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Senior Resources: Social Work, Care Coordination, and Elder Law

Aging, Healthy Aging

Senior Resources: Social Work, Care Coordination, and Elder Law

For families with aging loved ones, having the right mix of senior resources can make life care planning easier and more effective. Many people often question the role of a care coordinator in an elder law firm, but in our practice, including social work in long-term legal and elder care planning makes perfect sense. After all, Rothkoff Law Group is an elder care law firm. How many times have your peers encouraged you to see an elder law attorney for your loved one? Many of your peers may have found themselves in times of crisis in which they not only felt [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:32:07-05:00March 18, 2022|

Medicare Fraud and Unlawful Practices
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Medicare Fraud and Unlawful Practices

Public Benefits

Medicare Fraud and Unlawful Practices

Most Medicare enrollees have suffered phone calls, commercials, and mailings trying to entice them into switching plans, but how do you know when these offerings are legitimate? If you are feeling pressured into joining a plan, it is important to remember that many insurance agents and brokers may receive a large fee for securing your enrollment. It is important to recognize when a health insurance company or a health insurance advisor may not have your best interests in mind. The widespread privatization of Medicare benefits can lead some seniors, or disabled individuals, to experience Medicare fraud. Medicare has many regulations [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:33:46-05:00February 25, 2022|

Changes to Medicare in 2022
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Changes to Medicare in 2022

Public Benefits

Changes to Medicare in 2022

Every year there are a few tweaks and changes to Medicare, the federal health insurance program for those 65 and older. The most predictable changes: increased premiums and deductibles. 2022 brings the largest Medicare Part B increase in history–a $21.60 increase. The 2022 premium is $170.10. Medicare Part B covers physician appointments and outpatient services. Reasons for the increase include: Rising healthcare costs due in part to COVID-19 A congressional act to lower the planned 2021 Part B premium with the difference being repaid via the 2022 increase CMS’s decision to save money to cover the expense of the potentially [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:34:45-05:00February 11, 2022|

Extension of the 3-Day Prior Hospitalization Waiver
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Extension of the 3-Day Prior Hospitalization Waiver

Public Benefits

Extension of the 3-Day Prior Hospitalization Waiver

What does the 3-Day Prior Hospitalization waiver extension mean for seniors seeking skilled nursing facility-level care? Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued several waivers in response to the Public Health Emergency. These waivers were scheduled through at least January 2022. In January, it was determined that the 3-Day Prior Hospitalization waiver would remain in effect at least through April 16, 2022. This waiver allows for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility level of care without a qualifying hospitalization. Under the traditional Medicare guidelines, a Medicare beneficiary must be admitted to a [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:10:18-05:00February 4, 2022|

Rothkoff Quarterly: Winter 2022
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Rothkoff Quarterly: Winter 2022

eNewsletter

Rothkoff Quarterly: Winter 2022

In the Winter 2022 edition of the Rothkoff Quarterly, we learn the value of visiting a loved one with advanced dementia, reflect on the 4th Annual Elder Care Symposium, take a deep dive into important 2022 Elder Law numbers, look back at the amazing time everyone had at the client appreciation event this past December, and showcase our new website!

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:11:21-05:00January 3, 2022|

Know Your Rights: Special Enrollment Period
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Know Your Rights: Special Enrollment Period

Public Benefits

Know Your Rights: Special Enrollment Period

Are you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period? While annual open enrollment has come to a close, that does not necessarily mean that you missed your opportunity to make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan or your Medicare part D prescription drug plan. If you have Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, meaning your Medicare benefits are offered through a private company, you will have a second opportunity to make changes. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period, running from January 1, 2022, through March 31, 2022, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or go [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:12:06-05:00December 17, 2021|

The VA Aid and Attendance Pension Helps Seniors Age in Place
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The VA Aid and Attendance Pension Helps Seniors Age in Place

Public Benefits

The VA Aid and Attendance Pension Helps Seniors Age in Place

The VA Aid and Attendance program is helping veterans across the nation receive home care and avoid the need for leaving their surroundings for a nursing facility. Below we discuss the details of this program and the eligibility for seniors who have served to receive these helpful benefits. Very few people, if any, plan to spend their last days in a nursing facility. People want to remain at home. There they are surrounded by personal comforts and have control over their daily lives. Sadly, certain conditions make it untenable for some to remain at home. While disease progressions may necessitate [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:12:40-05:00November 30, 2021|

What Are Guaranteed Issue Rights in Medicare?
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What Are Guaranteed Issue Rights in Medicare?

Public Benefits

What Are Guaranteed Issue Rights in Medicare?

While many people are currently assessing their health insurance options for fall’s Open Enrollment, running from October 15 through December 7, some may have questions about their options regarding Medicare, Medigap policies, and Guaranteed Issue Rights. If you are enrolled in or interested in enrolling in a Medigap policy, these policies are not subject to Medicare’s Open Enrollment period. A Medigap policy, or Medicare Supplement Insurance policy, helps to fill the “gaps” by serving as a supplement to Original Medicare, covering a portion of remaining health costs, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. These types of policies are sold by [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:12:50-05:00November 26, 2021|

Advocacy is Essential When Applying for Medicaid
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Advocacy is Essential When Applying for Medicaid

Public Benefits

Advocacy is Essential When Applying for Medicaid

As an attorney for Rothkoff Law Group, I help support our Public Benefits staff with complicated Medicaid issues and unexpected application outcomes when applying for Medicaid. As a result, I have found the internal processes of state Medicaid agencies processing Medicaid applications do not always comply with state and federal Medicaid laws, often to the detriment of our clients. For this reason, it is essential to have an advocate when applying for Medicaid for long-term care in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is worth noting I do not believe the Medicaid agency’s occasional failure to comply with Medicaid rules [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:14:27-05:00October 21, 2021|

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