• 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    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?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 » VT Seniors: Secondary Coverage or Second Class Citizens

VT Seniors: Secondary Coverage or Second Class Citizens

March 12, 2014 by Ellen LaPlante

There’s much to be concerned about when it comes to healthcare and the nation’s elderly. The nation as a whole, and certainly Vermont residents, feel cornered because of all of the many changes, proposed changes and players in the healthcare game. There are simply too many unanswered questions and confusion over the various programs as a whole. For Vermont seniors and elderly, the stakes were just raised. If nothing else, the current goings-on are a reminder of just how important estate planning is. This week, we take a look at the latest controversy in Vermont and its efforts of creating a healthcare system to benefit all.

Secondary Coverage

In late February, Senate Finance Committee Chair Tim Ashe announced his plans to require Medicare beneficiaries to take action before they become eligible for secondary coverage through Vermont’s planned universal health care program. It didn’t take long before other lawmakers and healthcare professionals began looking past the initial changes and what they would mean for the state’s seniors.

For instance, Senator Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, said that if secondary coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, via Green Mountain Care, was required, it would equate to bad policy. He went so far as to say, “Senior citizens are going to be treated as second class citizens if we pass this bill.”

It’s only been since 2011 that Vermont passed a law that established the nation’s first statewide single payer healthcare system. It creates a platform that allows Vermonters to receive universal health care via the latest in technological advances.

“How we address Medicare enrollees is something that we should think about this year,” Rutland said.
Meanwhile, Ashe has been making his own arguments, “If seniors on Medicare fall into the same tax structure as everyone else, they will essentially be getting “double charged.” The taxes, he explained, have already been paid over the course of one’s working life.

Many also say that moving forward this will be anything but simplifying the process for seniors and that asking them to make these types of choices when they don’t have all of the information would put them at a distinct disadvantage.

Green Mountain Care

Vermont’s single payer healthcare system, Green Mountain Care, hasn’t been without its own problems and controversies. Many say the efforts of the company are woefully short – especially considering the costs.

Administration officials have pegged the cost of covering everyone expected to be on Medicare in 2017 – when Green Mountain Care launches – at $89 million. With federal employees and military that total would be $112 million.

Remember, at this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to how anyone will even make payments as there is no definitive
financing mechanism in place of the state’s program. What many do agree on, however, is that the Green Mountain Care benefit will be higher. Whatever the difference ultimately becomes will certainly affect the amount seniors on Medicare need to pay into the system.

Wondering if you or your elderly loved one have options when it comes to medical cover that you may not be aware exist? If so, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you. Schedule your complimentary consultation today. Our caring and compassionate healthcare lawyers stand ready to help in any way we can, just as we have helped thousands of Vermont seniors with their estate planning efforts, Medicaid coverage and more. We’re here to help answer your questions and ensure you’re not left vulnerable.

  • 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: General Tagged With: vermont seniors, medicare, vermont healthcare, green mountain care, secondary coverage, single payer healthcare system, universal health care program

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
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?
Essex Junction elder law attorney
Senior Care Options
Essex Junction estate planning attorney
Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Single Without Children?
Essex Junction elder law attorney
How to Pick the Right Nursing Home

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.