• 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
    • LGBTQ Estate 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
      • 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    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?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
    • Newsletters
    • 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 » Nursing Home Residents Can Keep Stimulus Checks

Nursing Home Residents Can Keep Stimulus Checks

June 10, 2020 by Ellen LaPlante

elder lawBefore we share an important detail of the CARES Act that you should understand if someone that you love is in a nursing home, we have to share some cold hard facts.

You may think that it is unlikely that you will ever require nursing home care, but the statistics tell a different tale.

Aging and Long-Term Care

The United States Department of Health and Human Services maintains a very informative website called LongTermCare.gov. According to the site, 70 percent of seniors will someday need help with their activities of daily living. They go on to state that 35 percent of these people will reside in nursing homes.

There are many underlying causes, but Alzheimer’s disease is a leading culprit. You may be surprised to hear that it strikes about one third of people that are 85 and older. If you live long enough to collect Social Security, your life expectancy is at least 85 years depending on your gender.

The United States Census Bureau tells us that the segment of the population that was between 85 and 94 years of age grew faster than any other between the last two censuses.

Medicare Won’t Help

Since Medicare is designed to meet the health care insurance needs of senior citizens, and most seniors will need living assistance, you would expect Medicare to cover it. Many people would say that it makes absolutely no sense, but in fact, Medicare does not pay for the custodial care that nursing homes provide.

Sky High Costs

It is not easy to pay for long-term care out of your own pocket. We have office Essex Junction, Vermont. Genworth Financial conducts in-depth research into the state of long-term care costs around the country.

They have found that the median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home in the Albany area was $147,825 in 2019. In Essex Junction, the number was $148,920. The average length of stay is one year, and married couples may face two different sets of nursing home bills.

Medicaid Planning

The majority of individuals  that understand all of the above aim toward future Medicaid eligibility. This is a jointly administered federal/state government health insurance for people with very limited financial resources. It does pay for long-term care.

You can give assets away to qualify, but you have to complete the gift giving at least five years before you submit your application. If you violate this rule, your eligibility is delayed for a period of time that is based on the amount that you gave away.

CARES Act Provision

Because there are income and asset limits that govern Medicaid eligibility, any overages are typically absorbed by the nursing home. Under the terms of the CARES Act, the stimulus checks and direct deposits that most Americans received are technically tax credits. They do not count as income or a financial resource that could impact Medicaid eligibility.

There have been some nursing homes that have in fact intercepted checks that were intended for their residents. If this has happened to someone that you know, you should certainly pressure the nursing home to make things right, because the law is on your side.

Attend a Webinar

We have always reached out to members of our community through our free seminars, but the coronavirus has put an end to the sessions for the time being. However, all is not lost, because technology is on our side.

Our attorneys are now holding webinars, and we urge you to attend one of these sessions to build on your knowledge. You can visit our webinar page to see the dates and obtain registration information.

Schedule a Remote Consultation!

There has never been a better time to put an estate plan in place if you are currently unprepared. We can also help you revise your existing plan if your life situation has changed since the initial plan was created.

Once again, we have adapted to keep everyone safe. We are offering remote consultations through video and telephone conferencing, so it is actually easier to get the legal assistance that you need.

The number in Vermont is 802-879-7133, and there is a contact form on this site that you can use to send us a message.

 

 

  • 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)
  • How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont - December 11, 2022
  • Planning for the “Silver Tsunami” - November 1, 2022
  • Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness - October 27, 2022

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Elder Law, CARES Act

Other Articles You May Find Useful

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
Planning for the “Silver Tsunami”
Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness
More than Just Salad Dressing: The Ongoing Saga of Newman’s Own Foundation
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

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

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.