The legal battle over the life of Terri Shiavo, age 26 when she went into coma, caused many people to stop and think about end of life planning through advance directives like Living Wills and Health Care Powers of Attorney.…
Yes. First, Medicaid in South Carolina is over a dozen different programs. One program covers only poor children and another severely handicapped children whose parents are just slightly over federal poverty limits; one cov-ers poor pregnant women and another poor…
People of modest means with total assets between $25,000 to $500,000 should talk with an elder law attorney about Medicaid planning. Planning may be addressed as part of their general estate plan. The individual’s or couple’s goals that should be…
April 16th is National Health Care Decisions Day. Health care decision making involves considerations about personal preferences, the role of other family members and physicians, finances, and religious beliefs. The legal profession is uniquely positioned to provide practical advice as…
A person’s legal capacity has to do with wide ranges of ability and understanding when it comes to making decisions. Different levels of capacity satisfy different legal transactions and health care situations. Typically the lowest level of capacity is needed…
On October 13, 2009, Veteran’s Affairs Secretary Shinseki established service connection for Vietnam veterans with three conditions; Parkinson’s, B cell leukemias, and ischemic heart disease. This is major news for our Vietnam Veterans who suffer with any of these diseases.…
In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11th as Armistice Day to honor those veterans that served in World War I. In 1954, President Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all wars. Every Nov.…
The doctor says it will be a matter of weeks. Is there anything more I need to know or do? This week I had the privilege of saying goodbye to a dear client. As he faced his last days on…
The Social Security Administration (hereinafter SSA) considers income and disability as two separate eligibility factors for childhood Supplemental Security Income (hereinafter SSI) benefits. SSI is a means-tested program that provides cash assistance and Medicaid coverage to certain aged, blind and…
When my Father passed some years ago the flag ceremony performed by two active duty sailors at his grave side was part of the memorial to our loved one who gave four years of service. That flag hangs above my…
