News
2020 Elder Law Numbers
2020 Medicare Numbers The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the new Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-payments for 2020: Basic Part B premium:...............................................$144.60/month (was $135.50 in 2019) Part B deductible:...................................................... $198 ($185.00 in 2019)Part A deductible:......................................................$1,408 (was $1,364 in 2019)Co-payment for hospital stay days 61-90:................. $352/day (was $341 in 2019)Co-payment for hospital stay days 91-150:................ $704/day (was $682 in 2019) All costs for each day beyond 150 daysSkilled nursing facility co-payment, days 21-100:.... $176/day (was $170.50 in 2019) Also, note that individuals with annual incomes over $87,000 and married couples with annual incomes over $174,000 will pay [...]
Bryan Adler and Jerold Rothkoff Named 2017 Awesome Attorneys
We are honored that South Jersey Magazine has named Bryan Adler and Jerold Rothkoff to its 2017 Awesome Attorneys list. Rothkoff Law Group was the only South Jersey Elder Care Law Firm to have two attorneys named to the prestigious list for Elder Law.
Pixar’s Coco Reveals the Importance of Remembering Family Members
Over Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I saw the new Pixar movie, Coco. The result of which is now I recall crying watching two animated Pixar films. Up, my all-time favorite Pixar movie, and now Coco. Like so many Pixar films before it, Coco indulges the belief that kids know best, while it’s up to adults to come around. In the case of Coco, a misunderstood child attempts to convince his family of humble shoemakers to allow him to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing the guitar. Only trouble is, the child’s family has forbidden any form of music in their household for the past [...]
The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained
Who knew that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of only twenty United States jurisdictions which collect a state death tax? For the Pennsylvania resident decedent, regardless of whether the beneficiaries live in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware Counties, or beyond the borders of the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Inheritance tax will likely impact any inheritance. In this blog, The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained, we answer eight of the most commonly asked questions. 1. I already filed the decedent’s taxes on April 15th. Why do I need to file a Pennsylvania REV-1500? Comparing income taxes to state death taxes is like [...]
“Granny Pods” Allow Your Aging Parents to Live in Your Backyard
Are Granny Pods the solution to helping our parents live on their own and have supervision simultaneously? AARP estimates that about 23 million Americans take care of their elderly parents. Many wish to “age in place,” however living on their own may not be an option and may cause anxiety and guilt for some families. Some adult children are willing to welcome grandma or grandpa into their own homes but may not have the space. If you are considering inviting mom or dad to live with you but lack space there are options, both temporary and permanent. Have you seen [...]
What are the Different Types of Caregivers?
Looking to procure a caregiver for a loved one? Between deciding amongst the myriad of home care agencies and selecting the appropriate type of attendant, hiring a private caregiver can feel overwhelming. Here we break down the different types of caregivers to assist you in your search. There are several different types of caregivers who provide services to older adults and individuals with disabilities and age-related medical conditions. Family members often take on the role of primary caregiver for a loved one while receiving no financial reimbursement, but when that role is no longer feasible, a person becomes faced with [...]
Bryan Adler Becomes a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)
I am pleased to announce that one of our Attorneys, Bryan Adler, attained the designation of Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) certifies attorneys in the area of Elder Law and is the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer such a certification. The CELA designation is awarded only to attorneys focusing their practice in elder law who demonstrate their expertise by passing a rigorous national certifying examination and by verifying their involvement in complex elder law matters. An attorney with the CELA designation must meet the following criteria: Licensed to practice in [...]
Comparison of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Medicaid Eligibility Rules
Our elder and disability law office has offices in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Therefore, it is common for a family to consult with our office that has a parent residing in Pennsylvania, and a child in New Jersey, or vice versa. In many of these cases, the family is inquiring about what state they should look to for the potential placement of their loved one in a long-term care setting. Our job is to analyze their assets, income, medical needs, and the family’s goals to recommend whether New Jersey or Pennsylvania is the better long-term care setting. Below we [...]
New Jersey CARE Act Signed by Governor Christie to Assist Family Caregivers
Last week, Governor Christie signed into law the New Jersey CARE Act, which will benefit caregivers and their families. The CARE Act is an acronym for Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable. The law will go into effect 180 days after the governor signed the law. The New Jersey CARE Act addresses the problems family members have when their loved one is discharged from the hospital. Often, a patient requires follow-up that family members are not trained to provide. For example, there may be a need to change dressings, monitor medication, or provide personal care, in which an adult child or spouse [...]
Rothkoff Law Group Welcomes Bryan Adler, Associate Attorney
We are pleased to welcome the addition of Bryan Adler, as an Associate Attorney, to our elder law office. Bryan was previously associated with an elder law office in Bucks County, PA. Bryan, a native of central Pennsylvania, lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife, Stefanie, and their daughter, Addison. Bryan will be working in our Trevose, PA, and Center City Philadelphia offices serving our Pennsylvania clients and their caregivers. Bryan can be reached at bryan@rothkoff.j2test.com.
What Do The Letters After A Social Security Or Medicare Number Mean?
This situation has occurred many times over the years: a client gives me a copy of a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) which contains a Social Security Number (SSN) followed by the letters “A”, “B”, “E” or other letters, and then asks me to explain what type of benefit is indicated by the letter following the SSN. As this seems to be a common question, I thought that a blog post on the subject might be appropriate. So, what do the letters after a social security or Medicare number mean? FYI, the letters that come after a SSN [...]