• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Inheritance Planning for Minor Children
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » Disappointing Turnout for Alzheimer’s Testimony

Disappointing Turnout for Alzheimer’s Testimony

March 17, 2014 by Ellen LaPlante

In what should have resulted in a robust turnout among the nation’s lawmakers actually became testimony about Alzheimer’s disease being delivered to just two senators. Seth Rogen, a Hollywood actor, director and producer who’s starred in several films, testified in front of the Senate Committee on Appropriations about the rising costs of Alzheimer’s disease and to ask what the committee intended to in order to provide better funding. One look at the statistics reveals why so many Americans are disappointed that only two members of the committee actually extended the courtesy and respect to hear his testimony.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association:

  • 5 million Americans have some degree of Alzheimer’s
  • Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. .
  • 1 in 3 senior citizens dies with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.
  • In 2012 alone, more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care was delivered and valued at $216 billion.
  • The costs of Alzheimers will reach $1.2 TRILLION over the next four decades.

For the actor, this testimony is important on a very personal level. His mother in law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nine years ago. His story was powerful, “After forgetting who she and her loved ones were, my mother-in-law, a teacher of 35 years, then forgot how to speak, feed herself, dress herself and go to the bathroom herself, all by the age of 60,” Rogen told the committee.

“The situation is so dire, that it caused me, a lazy, self-involved, generally self-medicated man-child, to start an entire charity organization,” he said, explaining that he launched Hilarity for Charity to raise money for research and for families struggling with the illness.

Unfortunately, we’re still facing a little-discussed possibility when it comes to Medicaid and especially Medicare funding. One plan replaces Medicare with a voucher system and then cuts reimbursement to providers. Last spring, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would see Medicare change from a “defined benefit” system, in which the government pays providers the cost of covered services, to a “defined contribution” system, in which seniors receive a voucher to purchase coverage in the private marketplace. It may sound simple enough, but under this voucher system, seniors would pay for all costs beyond the voucher’s value. Because the vouchers would be valued based on the current GDP, and because health care costs grow substantially faster than GDP, it doesn’t take much to realize that the growing cost of Alzheimer’s and the shrinking funding sources for health care for the elderly is on a course that will spell devastation for some families. According to the Congressional Budget Office, seniors would spend over two-thirds of their income on health care. As a result, many would drop their coverage.

Rogen wasted no time after his testimony to take to Twitter to ensure his voice was heard via that communication avenue. He was understandably disappointed. At one point, Senator Mark Kirk tweeted a photo of he and Rogen to his followers with the tweet, “Thanks to @sethrogen for speaking out about efforts to #ENDALZ. RT if you know someone affected by #Alzheimers.” Seth replied back moments later and made it clear he could care less about photo ops. He tweeted, “.@SenatorKirk pleasure meeting you. Why did you leave before my speech? Just curious.”

Moments after that, Rogen tweeted a photo of the empty chairs he faced at the hearing.

So what ultimately becomes of this? Rogen’s charity is doing great work and many seniors still have estate planning options available. From setting up trusts to qualifying for Medicaid or Medicare, we’re sure we can help protect your loved one’s future with proper estate planning.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ellen LaPlante
Ellen LaPlante
Ellen LaPlante is an attorney whose mission is to provide clients with guidance in Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Medicaid Preparation. She is barred in Vermont and New York. Ellen helps clients put together unique estate plans, including assistance with Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Directives. She also works with clients on Medicaid Planning and qualifying for Medicaid assistance.
Ellen LaPlante
Latest posts by Ellen LaPlante (see all)
  • Medicaid Planning - August 31, 2023
  • 5 Essential Estate Plan Components - August 22, 2023
  • How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont - December 11, 2022

Filed Under: General Tagged With: medicare, senior citizens, alzheimer's disease, seth rogen, retirment, Estate Planning, Medicaid, Trusts

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Estate planning tips
10 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Plan Succeed
Trust administration Vermont
What Is Involved in Trust Administration in Vermont?
Estate plan components
5 Essential Estate Plan Components
Essex Junction elder law attorney
Protecting Elderly Loved Ones from Financial Abuse
Essex Junction elder law attorneys
What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.